Four Minnesota agriculture research and promotion councils are seeking candidates for their board elections. Positions are open on the board of directors for the barley, beef, corn and soybean research and promotion councils. Candidates will be selected through mail ballot elections conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in March.

The candidate registration deadline is February 7, 2013. These farmer/leaders will serve three-year terms directing the investment of their research and promotion council’s check-off programs. The open commodity council board positions include:

Beef Research and Promotion Council:
District 4: Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Lac Qui Parle, Ottertail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine
District 5: Benton, Carver, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Renville, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Wright
District 6: Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Chisago, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, Washington
District 7: Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock
District 9: Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona

Corn Research and Promotion Council:
District 3, 5 & 6: Anoka, Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Lake, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Washington, Wright, Scott
District 7: Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock
District 8: Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan

Soybean Research and Promotion Council:
District 4: Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Lac Qui Parle, Ottertail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkin, Yellow Medicine
District 5 & 6: Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Chisago, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Renville, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Washington, Wright
District 7: Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock
District 8: Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan District 9: Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona

Those interested in running for the vacant positions should contact the council listed below to find out their nominating committee chairs.
Barley Research and Promotion Office: 1-800-242.6118 or 218 253-4311
Beef Research and Promotion Office: 952-854-6980
Corn Research and Promotion Office: 952-233-0333
Soybean Research and Promotion Office: 1-888-896-9678 or 507-388-1635

Farmers who voted last year will receive ballots by mail. Those who did vote last year can request a ballot from the above commodity council offices by February 7, 2013.