1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; creating the Minnesota
1.3 	Livestock Producer Council; proposing coding for new
1.4 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [17.1355] MINNESOTA LIVESTOCK PRODUCER
1.7 	COUNCIL.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; membership. (a) The
1.9 	Minnesota Livestock Producer Council is established.  The
1.10 	council is composed of 17 members as follows:
1.11 	(1) a representative of the Minnesota Farm Bureau;
1.12 	(2) a representative of the Minnesota Farmers Union;
1.13 	(3) a representative of the National Farm Organization;
1.14 	(4) a representative of the Sustainable Farming Association
1.15 	of Minnesota;
1.16 	(5) a representative of the Minnesota Milk Producers
1.17 	Association;
1.18 	(6) a representative of the Minnesota Pork Producers
1.19 	Association;
1.20 	(7) a representative of the Minnesota Cattlemen's
1.21 	Association;
1.22 	(8) a representative of the Minnesota Lamb and Wool
1.23 	Production Association;
1.24 	(9) a representative of the Minnesota Elk Breeders
1.25 	Association;
2.1 	(10) a representative of the Minnesota Turkey Growers
2.2 	Association;
2.3 	(11) a representative of the Egg and Broiler Association of
2.4 	Minnesota;
2.5 	(12) a representative of the Minnesota Land Stewardship
2.6 	Project;
2.7 	(13) a representative of the Minnesota Horse Council;
2.8 	(14) two members of the Minnesota Senate appointed by the
2.9 	Subcommittee on Committees, with at least one member appointed
2.10 	from the minority caucus; and 
2.11 	(15) two members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
2.12 	appointed by the speaker, with at least one member appointed
2.13 	from the minority caucus.
2.14 	(b) The members under paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (13),
2.15 	must be appointed by the organization they represent and be
2.16 	active family farmers who are responsible for the day-to-day
2.17 	management and operation of a Minnesota livestock farm.  To the
2.18 	extent practicable, the members appointed under paragraph (a),
2.19 	clauses (14) and (15), should be livestock producers.
2.20 	(c) One member appointed under paragraph (a), clause (14),
2.21 	and one member appointed under paragraph (a), clause (15), must
2.22 	be appointed as cochairs of the council.  The cochairs must call
2.23 	at least four meetings of the council per year.
2.24 	(d) Compensation for members of the council is as provided
2.25 	under section 15.0575, subdivision 3.
2.26 	(e) The commissioner of agriculture must provide
2.27 	administrative support for the council.
2.28 		Subd. 2.Duties. The council must:
2.29 	(1) provide a forum to discuss any livestock production
2.30 	problems that exist and make recommendations to solve these
2.31 	problems;
2.32 	(2) work toward ending Minnesota's feedlot war and begin a
2.33 	new era for Minnesota livestock producers that is characterized
2.34 	by peace, harmony, and acceptance of Minnesota's diverse
2.35 	livestock production systems;
2.36 	(3) educate the public that federal, state, and local
3.1 	feedlot regulations are among the most stringent in the world
3.2 	and will, if followed, protect the environment in almost all
3.3 	situations;
3.4 	(4) advise federal, state, and local governments on
3.5 	appropriate changes to feedlot regulations;
3.6 	(5) encourage competing advocates for various production
3.7 	systems to channel their rhetoric and resources into promoting
3.8 	their preferred method of production, rather than channeling
3.9 	rhetoric and resources into tearing down someone else's
3.10 	preferred method of production;
3.11 	(6) encourage livestock farmers to renew and intensify
3.12 	their efforts to be good neighbors and carefully follow all
3.13 	federal, state, and local feedlot regulations;
3.14 	(7) encourage rural residents to renew and intensify their
3.15 	efforts to be good neighbors and accept, encourage, and support
3.16 	the livestock producers in their area;
3.17 	(8) encourage all Minnesotans to develop a respectful,
3.18 	encouraging, and appreciative attitude toward Minnesota
3.19 	livestock farmers, and to be more like many European countries
3.20 	where high human populations live peacefully and harmoniously,
3.21 	in close proximity to livestock farmers who use diverse
3.22 	production systems ranging from small pastures to modern
3.23 	confinement barns;
3.24 	(9) educate Minnesotans about the economic and
3.25 	environmental benefits of livestock production on farms that are
3.26 	properly sited, engineered, and managed; and 
3.27 	(10) promote, nurture, and encourage Minnesota's family
3.28 	farm livestock producers, and the agribusinesses that associate
3.29 	with them, in any way the council decides is appropriate.
3.30 		Subd. 3.Expiration. This section expires on June 30,
3.31 	2007.