1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; creating a price support program for beef cattle producers 
1.3 	located within a downgraded bovine tuberculosis split state zone;proposing 
1.4 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [17.120] SPLIT STATE BEEF PRICE SUPPORT PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner shall administer a program to 
1.8 	provide price support payments to eligible beef cattle producers. The commissioner shall 
1.9 	issue payments required under this section quarterly and no later than April 30, July 
1.10 	30, October 30, and January 30.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. To be eligible for a split state beef price support payment, 
1.12 	a person must:
1.13 	(1) be the principal operator of a beef cattle operation located wholly or partially 
1.14 	within a split state zone designated by the United States Department of Agriculture as 
1.15 	modified accredited or accreditation preparatory for bovine tuberculosis;
1.16 	(2) have sold a beef cow, steer, or heifer during the previous three months;
1.17 	(3) be a resident of Minnesota or an entity authorized to farm in this state under 
1.18 	section 500.24, subdivision 3; and
1.19 	(4) apply to the commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner including a 
1.20 	statement of any beef cattle sale and price per hundredweight received during the previous 
1.21 	three months, along with any proof or other documentation the commissioner may require.
1.22 		Subd. 3.Payment calculation. If in any quarter the average price received by 
1.23 	an eligible person for beef cattle sold is less than the average price received by all 
1.24 	Minnesota beef cattle producers with operations located outside of the split state zone, 
2.1 	the commissioner shall pay the eligible person an amount equal to the price differential 
2.2 	per hundredweight times the total quantity of beef cattle sold by the eligible person, as 
2.3 	measured in hundredweight, during the previous quarter.
2.4 		Subd. 4.Partnership. The commissioner may partner with the Farm Service 
2.5 	Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture for administration of the program.
2.6 		Subd. 5.Expiration. This section expires 30 days after the United States 
2.7 	Department of Agriculture publishes notice in the Federal Register that the entire state 
2.8 	has achieved a bovine tuberculosis status of modified accredited advanced or accredited 
2.9 	free, whichever comes first. However, before the program expires the commissioner shall 
2.10 	make any price support payments required under this section to an eligible person who 
2.11 	applies for payment on a cattle sale that occurred after the last payment date and before 
2.12 	the effective date of the United States Department of Agriculture's status upgrade.

2.13 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.14 	$....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2009 from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.15 	of agriculture for the split state beef price support program in section 1.