Section 2 [Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council]

Subdivision 1 [Establishment; Membership] establishes a Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council of 12 members representing various portions of the agriculture industry, who are nominated by their organization and appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The terms for members are three years and the sponsoring organization or the member is responsible for reimbursing members for expenses.

Subdivision 2 [Powers and Duties] the Council will select projects to receive grants under the Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Program. The Commissioner of Agriculture will act as fiscal agent for the Council. During the first year, the Commissioner of Agriculture will provide administrative services to the Council. The Commissioner may use up to eight percent of the program revenues for fiscal and administrative services. For second and subsequent years, the Council may select the Commissioner of Agriculture or another person to provide administrative services to the Council.

Subdivision 3 [Checkoff Fees] establishes a checkoff fee of 40 cents per ton on fertilizer that is sold to an agricultural producer in Minnesota.

Subdivision 4 [Program Account] establishes the Fertilizer Research and Education Program Account in the Agricultural Fund for the proceeds from the checkoff fees. The account is appropriated to the Commissioner of Agriculture to carry out the program and provide refunds under subdivision 5.

Subdivision 5 [Refunds] allows agricultural producers to apply to have the checkoff fee refunded.

Subdivision 6 [Rulemaking Exemption] exempts from rulemaking the duties of the Commissioner of Agriculture under this section and for the fertilizer research and education program.

Subdivision 6 [Expiration] makes this section expire on January 8, 2018.

This section is effective January 1, 2008.

Section 3 [Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Program]

Subdivision 1 [Eligible Projects] specifies that the project must be related to the production and application of fertilizer and that chosen projects must contain an outreach component.

Subdivision 2 [Awarding of Grants] establishes the application process for the grants and specifies that each grant must be approved by at least eight of the 12 Council members or 2/3 of the voting members present.

Subdivision 3 [Audit] requires an annual financial audit for the program.

Subdivision 4 [Expiration] makes this section expire on January 8, 2018.

This section is effective January 1, 2008.

TSB:rdr

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