FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 29, 2010

CONTACT:
Margaret Hart, Communications Coordinator
651.201.6131, Margaret.hart@state.mn.us

Minnesota Wheat Council seeks nominations and outlines election process

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council is seeking nominations for three board positions that are up for election in 2011.  Board members are responsible for administrating funds collected from the two cent check-off on wheat sold, delivered and stored in Minnesota. The council funds research and promotions designed to increase the profitability of wheat production in the state.

Eligible nominees shall be producers who own or operate a wheat farm and have shared in the profit and losses of wheat production during the current or preceding marketing year.

One producer will be elected in each of the following Council Areas:

Area 1: Clearwater, Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Beltrami, Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties.
Incumbent – Ken Asp, Thief River Falls

Area 2: Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Douglas, Grant, Ottertail, Traverse, Wilkin, and Todd counties.
Incumbent – Mark Jossund, Moorhead 

Area 3: Includes all counties south of Traverse, Douglas, Grant and Todd counties.
No Incumbent – Open Position

Interested producers are encouraged to nominate themselves by filling out a biography form by December 1, 2010. Bio forms can be requested by calling the MWC at 1-800-242-6118 Ext. 13 or emailing the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at ruth.white@state.mn.us. 

Elections will be held at the Small Grains Update meetings scheduled for the week of January 17, 2011. The meetings and elections will be at the following locations and dates: 

Monday, January 17
Dawson, VFW, 8:30 a.m.
Morris, West Central Research and Outreach Center, 1:00 p.m. 

Tuesday, January 18
Breckenridge, Northern Grill, 8:30 a.m.
Moorhead, American Legion, 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 19
Crookston, American Legion, 8:30 a.m.
Ada, VFW, 10:45 a.m. 

Thursday, January 20
Hallock, City Hall, 9:00 a.m.
Argyle, American Legion, 1:00 p.m.
Roseau, Gene’s Bar and Grill, 5:00 p.m.

Friday, January 21
St. Hilaire, Northwest Grain, 8:30 a.m.
McIntosh, Community Center, 1:00 p.m. 

Wheat producers who are unable to attend one of these meeting are encouraged to vote with an absentee ballot. Absentee mail voting by qualified voters is permitted. To receive an absentee ballot, a qualified voter must submit a ballot request form to the Commissioner. To request a ballot, fill out a request form at www.mda.state.mn.us/food/business/commodityballot.aspx or call the MDA at 651-201-6494 or the MWC at 800-242-6118 Ext 13. The deadline to return a ballot request card is December 10, 2010. The MDA will mail out absentee ballots on December 14 and they must be returned with a postmark on or before December 28, 2010.

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