2000 Minnesota Statutes

     17.987 Market Champ, Inc.; access to quality genetics by 
  family farmers. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment; purpose.  Market Champ, 
 Inc. is established as a nonprofit public corporation under 
 chapter 317A and is subject to the provisions of that chapter. 
 The corporation is neither a state agency nor an entity within 
 the University of Minnesota.  The purpose of the corporation is 
 to transfer high quality swine genetic material from the 
 University of Minnesota to the family farmers of the state in 
 order to enhance the state's economic growth and the 
 competitiveness of family farmers.  Market Champ, Inc. shall 
 assist Minnesota swine producers in understanding genetic 
 technologies and developing improved animal genetic lines. 

    Subd. 2.    Duties.  Market Champ, Inc. shall: 

    (1) encourage family farmers to use the highest quality 
 swine genetics; 

    (2) facilitate the transfer of the latest swine genetic 
 research and technology information and materials from the 
 University of Minnesota and other sources to family farmers; 

    (3) assist family farmers to market the swine they produce; 

    (4) develop a system for tracking family farmers' products 
 through the processing, meat packing, and marketing system to 
 determine the market value of the genetic technology; 

    (5) provide genetic testing, counseling, and assistance in 
 genetic decisions to identify new market developments and 
 capture value-added opportunities; 

    (6) provide centralized testing services with regional 
 technology transfer specialists; 

    (7) secure access to new genetic tests and services for all 
 Minnesota producers through licensing agreements; and 

    (8) assist family farmers who do not otherwise have access 
 to high quality genetic technologies. 

    Subd. 3.    Board of directors.  (a) Market Champ, Inc. 
 shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of 11 
 voting members, appointed by the governor. 

    (b) The members of the board shall be: 

    (1) two representatives of small family farmers with under 
 250 sows; 

    (2) one representative of purebred swine producers; 

    (3) one member of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association; 

    (4) one representative of the pork industry; 

    (5) one member of the meat packing industry; 

    (6) one member representing the University of Minnesota; 

    (7) one member representing Minnesota state colleges and 
 universities; 

    (8) the commissioner of agriculture; 

    (9) the chair of the senate committee on agriculture and 
 rural development, or the chair's designee; and 

    (10) the chair of the house committee on agriculture, or 
 the chair's designee. 

 Members listed in clauses (1) to (5) must be recommended by the 
 president of the University of Minnesota or a designee of the 
 president, in consultation with the chairs of the senate and 
 house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over 
 agricultural policy and finance issues. 

    (c) Meetings of the board are subject to chapter 13D. 

    (d) Members of the board shall be compensated and 
 reimbursed in the same manner as members of advisory councils 
 under section 15.059, subdivision 3. 

    Subd. 4.    Bylaws.  Bylaws of Market Champ, Inc. must 
 provide for the qualification and removal of directors and for 
 filling vacancies on the board in a manner not inconsistent with 
 this section. 

    Subd. 5.    Articles of incorporation.  The articles of 
 incorporation of Market Champ, Inc. must be filed with the 
 secretary of state under chapter 317A and must be consistent 
 with this section. 

    Subd. 6.    Audit.  Market Champ, Inc. shall contract 
 with the legislative auditor to perform audits and must report 
 the results to the legislature. 

    Subd. 7.    Report.  The board of directors of Market 
 Champ, Inc. shall submit an annual report on the activities of 
 Market Champ, Inc. by January 15 of each year to the 
 appropriations, finance, and agriculture committees of the 
 legislature and to the governor.  The report must include a 
 description of the corporation's activities for the past year, a 
 list of all contracts entered into by the corporation, and a 
 financial report of revenues and expenditures of the corporation.

    Subd. 8.    Expiration.  The board of directors of 
 Market Champ, Inc. expires on June 30, 2003. 

    HIST: 1998 c 401 s 15