2005 Missouri Revised Statutes - § 275.320. — Establishment--petition, contents--membership.

275.320. A representative group of not less than five percent of the producers of an agricultural commodity may petition the director for permission to establish a commodity merchandising council. This petition shall include:

(1) A statement of the area of production to be included (the area shall be statewide, except that it may be limited to a well-defined smaller area where such area is the principal commercial producer in the state of the commodity);

(2) A statement of the general purposes of the commodity merchandising council program which may include research, education, grades and standards, merchandising, publicity, sales promotion and cooperation with other state, regional and national organizations;

(3) The amount of the fee that is desired to be collected for each designated unit of commercial quantities of the commodity;

(4) The method or methods to be used in the collection of the fee;

(5) The composition, qualification, terms of office, method of nomination, election, filling unexpired terms, salaries, travel expenses, and duties of the members of the council;

(a) The council shall consist of an odd number of not less than five nor more than fifteen members of whom the majority shall be producers to be selected by producers;

(b) The director shall serve as an ex officio member of the council;

(c) The dean of the college of agriculture, university of Missouri, will serve as an ex officio member of the council;

(6) A recommendation as to what shall constitute a commercial quantity of the commodity;

(7) The method of conducting the referendum of the commodity producers either by mail or by polling place depending on the area and volume of the commodity.

(L. 1969 S.B. 65 § 3, A.L. 1973 S.B. 92)