Commodity Elections

In accordance with Section 21 of the Illinois Corn Marketing Act, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board petitioned the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture to conduct a referendum to consider a proposed amendment to the Illinois Corn Marketing Program.  The proposed amendment would increase the current voluntary corn checkoff rate by 2/8 cent per bushel.  The referendum would increase the current voluntary checkoff rate to 7/8 of a cent per bushel. 

The Director held a public hearing on February 10^th, 2022 for the purpose of informing the public of the proposed change to the marketing program and to solicit public comments both written and oral. The hearing was held at the Department of Agriculture Administration Building, State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL.  After the hearing, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board met and voted to proceed with the referendum.

The date set for the referendum is March 29, 2022.   The amendment is approved if a majority of those voting in the referendum vote in favor of the amendment. Polling is to take place at the local Extension offices during normal business hours. Extension offices in Brown, Pike, Bond, Henderson, and Menard County will be closed, and Grundy County will have reduced hours from 12-4. Eligible voters who reside outside the State of Illinois or who cannot be physically present at the polls on March 29 may cast an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be requested in writing from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Requests should be sent to: Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Attn: Bureau of Marketing and Promotion, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL. 62794-9281.