Section 17.691 — Citation.

17.691 CITATION. Sections 17.691 to 17.701 shall be known and may be cited as the “Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973.” History: 1973 c 736 s 1

Section 17.692 — Declaration Of Policy.

17.692 DECLARATION OF POLICY. Agricultural products are produced in Minnesota by many individual farmers, ranchers, and handlers scattered throughout the state. The efficient production and marketing of agricultural products by farmers, ranchers, and handlers is of vital concern to their welfare and to the general economy of Minnesota. The marketing and bargaining position of individual […]

Section 17.693 — Definitions.

17.693 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 17.691 to 17.702, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them. Subd. 2. Association; association of producers. “Association” or “association of producers” means an association of producers of agricultural commodities engaged in marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing an agricultural commodity into agricultural […]

Section 17.694 — Accreditation.

17.694 ACCREDITATION. Subdivision 1. Procedures. Any association accredited under this section may engage in bargaining as provided for under sections 17.691 to 17.702. (1) An association desiring accreditation shall file with the commissioner in the form required by the commissioner. The request shall contain properly certified evidence that the association meets the standards for accreditation […]

Section 17.695 — Marketing And Bargaining Committee.

17.695 MARKETING AND BARGAINING COMMITTEE. Subdivision 1. Establishment. After accreditation of the association, the association shall establish and authorize a marketing and bargaining committee to negotiate, as the association’s exclusive agent, with handlers for the sale and marketing of the agricultural commodity for which the association was accredited. Subd. 2. Membership. This committee shall be […]

Section 17.696 — Unfair Practices Of Handlers And Associations.

17.696 UNFAIR PRACTICES OF HANDLERS AND ASSOCIATIONS. Subdivision 1. Unfair practices by handler. Producers of agricultural commodities are free to join together voluntarily in associations as authorized by law without interference by handlers. A handler shall not engage in any of the following practices, defined as unfair practices: (a) To coerce a producer in the […]

Section 17.697 — Informational Exchanges; Dispute Resolution.

17.697 INFORMATIONAL EXCHANGES; DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Subdivision 1. Definition. As used in sections 17.691 to 17.702, “informational exchange” means the mutual obligation of a handler and an association or their designated representatives to meet at a mutually agreed-upon time in conformance with sections 17.691 to 17.702 and confer and provide information about their expectations for the […]

Section 17.698 — Factors To Be Considered In Mediation And Arbitration.

17.698 FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION. All decisions of mediation and arbitration which result from section 17.697 must consider the following factors: (1) prices or projected prices for the agricultural commodity paid by the competing handlers in the market area or competing market areas worldwide; (2) amount of the commodity produced or […]

Section 17.70 — Violation Procedure.

17.70 VIOLATION PROCEDURE. Subdivision 1. Commissioner’s duties. For the purpose of sections 17.691 to 17.702, the commissioner may receive complaints with respect to violations or threatened violations. The commissioner may make all necessary investigations, examinations or inspections of any violation or threatened violation specified in the sworn complaint filed with the commissioner. If, upon such […]

Section 17.701 — Rules.

17.701 RULES. The commissioner may promulgate rules necessary for the administration of sections 17.691 to 17.702 in accordance with sections 17.691 to 17.702 and chapter 14. History: 1973 c 736 s 11; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1998 c 373 s 17; 2001 c 161 s 57

Section 17.702 — Negotiation Classes Required.

17.702 NEGOTIATION CLASSES REQUIRED. Upon accreditation of an association of producers, at least two members of bargaining teams from both the association and the handler named in the application must attend instructional classes covering negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and facilitation approved by the commissioner. The instruction period must be at least three hours. The informational exchanges […]