2007 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 223. GRAIN BUYERS

223.01 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.02 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.03 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.04 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.05 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.06 [Repealed, 1981 c 90 s 5]

223.07 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.08 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.09 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.10 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.11 [Repealed, 1982 c 635 s 9]

223.12 [Repealed, 1981 c 90 s 5]

223.15 CITATION.
Sections 223.15 to 223.19 may be cited as the Grain Buyers Act.
History: 1982 c 635 s 2; 1983 c 374 s 20

223.16 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Applicability. For the purpose of sections 223.15 to 223.22, the terms defined
in this section have the meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Bond. "Bond" means an obligation acceptable to and running to the state, as
obligee, for the purpose of indemnifying producers of grain against the breach of a contract
by a grain buyer.
    Subd. 2a. Cash sale. "Cash sale" means:
(a) a sale for which payment is tendered to the seller not later than the close of business on
the next business day after the sale, either in cash or by check, or by mailing or wiring funds to
the seller's account in the amount of at least 80 percent of the value of the grain at delivery; or
(b) a sale of a shipment of grain which is part of a multiple shipment sale, for which a scale
ticket clearly marked "CASH" has been received by the seller before completion of the entire sale,
and for which payment is tendered in cash or by check not later than ten days after the sale of that
shipment, except that when the entire sale is completed, payment is tendered in cash or by check
not later than the close of business on the next business day, or within 48 hours, whichever is later.
    Subd. 3. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture or the
commissioner's designee.
    Subd. 3a. Electronic document. "Electronic document" means a document that is generated,
sent, received, or stored by electronic, optical, or similar means, including electronic data
interchange, electronic mail, telegram, telex, or telecopy. "Electronic document" includes, but is
not limited to, grain purchase contracts and voluntary extension of credit contracts.
    Subd. 3b. Electronic signature. "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol,
or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person
with the intent to sign the record.
    Subd. 4. Grain. "Grain" means any cereal grain, coarse grain, or oilseed in unprocessed form
for which a standard has been established by the United States Secretary of Agriculture or the
Minnesota Board of Grain Standards, dry edible beans, or other agricultural crops designated by
the commissioner by rule.
    Subd. 5. Grain buyer. "Grain buyer" means a person who purchases grain for the purpose of
reselling the grain or products made from the grain, with the exception of a person who purchases
seed grain for crop production or who purchases grain as feed for the person's own livestock.
    Subd. 6. Grain warehouse. "Grain warehouse" means an elevator, flour, cereal or feed mill,
malthouse or warehouse in which grain belonging to a person other than the warehouse operator
is received for purchase or storage.
    Subd. 7. Independent grain buyer. "Independent grain buyer" means a person without a
private or public grain warehouse license who is licensed to engage in the business of purchasing
grain for resale.
    Subd. 8.[Repealed, 1983 c 374 s 22]
    Subd. 9. Person. "Person" means a corporation, company, joint stock company or
association, partnership, firm or individual and includes their agents, trustees, assignees or duly
appointed receivers.
    Subd. 10. Private grain warehouse operator. "Private grain warehouse operator" means
a person licensed to operate a grain warehouse for the sole purpose of purchasing, handling,
processing and shipping grain or its by-products who is not licensed by the commissioner to
accept grain belonging to others for storage. "Private grain warehouse operator" includes any
person licensed under the United States Warehouse Act, United States Code, title 7, chapter 10.
    Subd. 11. Producer. "Producer" means a person who grows grain on land owned or leased
by the person.
    Subd. 12. Public grain warehouse operator. "Public grain warehouse operator" means a
person operating a grain warehouse in which grain belonging to persons other than the grain
warehouse operator is accepted for storage or purchase or who offers grain storage or warehouse
facilities to the public for hire.
    Subd. 12a. Scale ticket. "Scale ticket" means a memorandum issued by a grain elevator or
warehouse operator to a depositor at the time grain is delivered, showing the weight and kind of
grain.
    Subd. 13. Semitrailer. "Semitrailer" means a vehicle described in section 168.011,
subdivision 14 , used to haul grain.
    Subd. 14. Trailer. "Trailer" means a vehicle described in section 168.011, subdivision 13,
used to haul grain.
    Subd. 15. Truck. "Truck" means a single unit vehicle described in section 168.011,
subdivision 10 , used to haul grain.
    Subd. 16. Voluntary extension of credit contract. "Voluntary extension of credit contract"
means a contract for the purchase of a specific amount of grain from a producer in which the
title to the grain passes to the grain buyer upon delivery, but the price is to be determined or
payment for the grain is to be made at a date later than the date of delivery of the grain to
the grain buyer. Voluntary extension of credit contracts include deferred or delayed payment
contracts, unpriced sales, no price established contracts, average pricing contracts, and all other
contractual arrangements with the exception of cash sales and grain storage agreements evidenced
by a grain warehouse receipt.
History: 1982 c 635 s 3; 1983 c 374 s 1-7,20; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 688 art 14 s 1; 2000 c
477 s 60; 2002 c 373 s 31; 2004 c 254 s 27,28

223.17 LICENSES; BONDING; CLAIMS; DISBURSEMENTS.
    Subdivision 1. Licenses. An application for a grain buyer's license must be filed with the
commissioner and the license issued before any grain may be purchased. The commissioner must
provide application forms and licenses that state the restrictions and authority to purchase and store
grain under the license being applied for and issued. The categories of grain buyers' licenses are:
(a) private grain warehouse operator's license;
(b) public grain warehouse operator's license; and
(c) independent grain buyer's license.
The applicant for a grain buyer's license shall identify all grain buying locations owned or
controlled by the grain buyer and all vehicles owned or controlled by the grain buyer used to
transport purchased grain. Every applicant for a grain buyer's license shall have a permanent
established place of business at each licensed location. An "established place of business" means
a permanent enclosed building, including a house or a farm, either owned by the applicant or
leased by the applicant for a period of at least one year, and where the books, records, and files
necessary to conduct the business are kept and maintained. The commissioner may maintain
information on grain buyers by categories including, but not limited to, the categories provided in
clauses (a) to (c) and grain buyers that are licensed to purchase grain using trucks but that do not
have a public or private warehouse license.
    Subd. 1a.[Repealed, 1986 c 322 s 4]
    Subd. 2. License renewal. A license must be renewed annually. Beginning July 1, 1984,
the commissioner may stagger the renewal dates of licenses issued under this chapter, subject
to the policy expressed in section 116J.69, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). If a person receives
more than one license from the commissioner, the licenses shall be issued at the same time,
but only after all conditions for each license are met. Multiple licenses should be combined
into one license if possible.
    Subd. 3. Grain buyers and storage account; fees. The commissioner shall set the fees
for inspections under sections 223.15 to 223.22 at levels necessary to pay the expenses of
administering and enforcing sections 223.15 to 223.22.
The fee for any license issued or renewed after June 30, 2005, shall be set according to the
following schedule:
(a) $140 plus $110 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual
purchases are less than $100,000;
(b) $275 plus $110 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual
purchases are at least $100,000, but not more than $750,000;
(c) $415 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual
purchases are more than $750,000 but not more than $1,500,000;
(d) $550 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual
purchases are more than $1,500,000 but not more than $3,000,000; and
(e) $700 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual
purchases are more than $3,000,000.
A penalty amount not to exceed ten percent of the fees due may be imposed by the
commissioner for each month for which the fees are delinquent.
There is created the grain buyers and storage account in the agricultural fund. Money
collected pursuant to sections 223.15 to 223.19 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited
to the grain buyers and storage account and is appropriated to the commissioner for the
administration and enforcement of sections 223.15 to 223.22.
    Subd. 4. Bond. Before a grain buyer's license is issued, the applicant for the license must
file with the commissioner a bond in a penal sum prescribed by the commissioner but not less
than the following amounts:
(a) $10,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are $100,000 or less;
(b) $20,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $100,000 but not
more than $750,000;
(c) $30,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $750,000 but
not more than $1,500,000;
(d) $40,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $1,500,000 but
not more than $3,000,000;
(e) $50,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $3,000,000 but
not more than $6,000,000;
(f) $70,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $6,000,000 but
not more than $12,000,000;
(g) $125,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases are more than $12,000,000
but not more than $24,000,000; and
(h) $150,000 for grain buyers whose gross annual purchases exceed $24,000,000.
A grain buyer who has filed a bond with the commissioner prior to July 1, 2004, is not
required to increase the amount of the bond to comply with this section until July 1, 2005. The
commissioner may postpone an increase in the amount of the bond until July 1, 2006, if a licensee
demonstrates that the increase will impose undue financial hardship on the licensee, and that
producers will not be harmed as a result of the postponement. The commissioner may impose
other restrictions on a licensee whose bond increase has been postponed. The amount of the bond
shall be based on the most recent financial statement of the grain buyer filed under subdivision 6.
A first-time applicant for a grain buyer's license shall file a $50,000 bond with the
commissioner. This bond shall remain in effect for the first year of the license. Thereafter, the
licensee shall comply with the applicable bonding requirements contained in clauses (a) to (h).
In lieu of the bond required by this subdivision the applicant may deposit with the
commissioner of finance cash, a certified check, a cashier's check, a postal, bank, or express
money order, assignable bonds or notes of the United States, or an assignment of a bank savings
account or investment certificate or an irrevocable bank letter of credit as defined in section
336.5-102, in the same amount as would be required for a bond.
    Subd. 5. Cash sales; manner of payment. For a cash sale of a shipment of grain which
is part of a multiple shipment sale, the grain buyer shall tender payment to the seller in cash or
by check not later than ten days after the sale of that shipment, except that when the entire sale
is completed, payment shall be tendered not later than the close of business on the next day, or
within 48 hours, whichever is later. For other cash sales the grain buyer, before the close of
business on the next business day after the sale, shall tender payment to the seller in cash or by
check, or shall wire or mail funds to the seller's account in the amount of at least 80 percent of
the value of the grain at the time of delivery. The grain buyer shall complete final settlement as
rapidly as possible through ordinary diligence.
    Subd. 5a. Grain purchases from unlicensed producers. No grain buyer may refuse to
purchase grain from a producer solely because the producer is not bonded or is not licensed by
the commissioner; provided, that any producer who buys grain from other producers shall be
licensed and bonded as required by this chapter.
    Subd. 6. Financial statements. For the purpose of fixing or changing the amount of a
required bond or for any other proper reason, the commissioner shall require an annual financial
statement from a licensee which has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and which meets the following requirements:
(a) The financial statement shall include, but not be limited to the following: (1) a balance
sheet; (2) a statement of income (profit and loss); (3) a statement of retained earnings; (4) a
statement of changes in financial position; and (5) a statement of the dollar amount of grain
purchased in the previous fiscal year of the grain buyer.
(b) The financial statement shall be accompanied by a compilation report of the financial
statement that is prepared by a grain commission firm or a management firm approved by the
commissioner or by an independent public accountant, in accordance with standards established
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Grain buyers purchasing less than
150,000 bushels of grain per calendar year may submit a financial statement prepared by a public
accountant who is not an employee or a relative within the third degree of kindred according to
civil law.
(c) The financial statement shall be accompanied by a certification by the chief executive
officer or the chief executive officer's designee of the licensee, under penalty of perjury, that
the financial statement accurately reflects the financial condition of the licensee for the period
specified in the statement.
Only one financial statement must be filed for a chain of warehouses owned or operated
as a single business entity, unless otherwise required by the commissioner. Any grain buyer
having a net worth in excess of $500,000,000 need not file the financial statement required by this
subdivision but must provide the commissioner with a certified net worth statement. All financial
statements filed with the commissioner are private or nonpublic data as provided in section 13.02.
    Subd. 6a. Suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue license. (a) If a license applicant or a
licensee fails to furnish financial statements the commissioner may refuse to issue or renew the
license or may suspend the license.
(b) The commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a license or may suspend a license
upon determining, based upon the financial statement filed under this section or other financial
information obtained by the commissioner, that the applicant or licensee is not financially able to
properly perform the services and operate the business for which the license is issued.
(c) When a license is suspended the licensee shall surrender the license to the commissioner.
An applicant or licensee may request an administrative hearing subject to chapter 14 within 15
days after the commissioner suspends a license or refuses to issue or renew a license under clause
(b) to determine whether the license should be issued, renewed, or revoked. If no request is made
within 15 days after suspension, the commissioner shall revoke the license.
    Subd. 7. Producer bond and contract claims. A producer claiming to be damaged by a
breach of a contract for the purchase of grain by a licensed grain buyer may file a written claim
with the commissioner. The claim must state the facts constituting the claim. The claim must be
filed with the commissioner within 180 days of the breach of the contract. If a claim is valid, the
commissioner may immediately suspend the license, in which case the licensee shall surrender the
license to the commissioner. Within 15 days the licensee may request an administrative hearing
subject to chapter 14 to determine whether the license should be revoked. If no request is made
within 15 days, the commissioner shall revoke the license.
    Subd. 8. Bond disbursement. (a) The bond required under subdivision 4 shall provide for
payment of loss caused by the grain buyer's failure to pay, upon the owner's demand, the purchase
price of grain sold to the grain buyer in the manner provided by subdivision 5, including loss
caused by failure to pay within the time required. The bond shall be conditioned upon the grain
buyer being duly licensed as provided herein.
(b) The commissioner shall promptly determine the validity of all claims filed and notify the
claimants of the determination. An aggrieved party may appeal the commissioner's determination
by requesting, within 15 days, that the commissioner initiate a contested case proceeding. In the
absence of such a request, or following the issuance of a final order in a contested case, the surety
company shall issue payment promptly to those claimants entitled to payment. The commissioner
may apply to the district court for an order appointing a trustee or receiver to manage and
supervise the operations of the grain buyer in default. The commissioner may participate in any
resulting court proceeding as an interested party.
(c) If a grain buyer has become liable to more than one producer by reason of breaches of the
conditions of the bond and the amount of the bond is insufficient to pay the entire liability to all
producers entitled to the protection of the bond, the proceeds of the bond shall be apportioned
among the bona fide claimants.
(d) The bond shall not be cumulative from one licensing period to the next. The maximum
liability of the bond shall be its face value for the licensing period.
    Subd. 9. Defaults; violations. If the commissioner finds, after an investigation is conducted,
that a complaint is valid or that a licensee is in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the
commissioner may immediately suspend the license, in which case the licensee shall surrender the
license to the commissioner. Within 15 days, the licensee may request an administrative hearing
subject to chapter 14 to determine whether the license should be revoked. If no request is made
within 15 days, the commissioner shall revoke the license.
History: 1982 c 424 s 130; 1982 c 635 s 4; 1983 c 374 s 8,20; 1985 c 233 s 5; 1986 c 444;
1987 c 396 art 11 s 15; 1996 c 305 art 3 s 28; 1997 c 11 art 2 s 9; 1997 c 216 s 126; 1999 c 231 s
169; 1999 c 250 art 3 s 24; 2000 c 477 s 61; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 142; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50; 2004 c 254
s 29,30; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 1 s 84,85; 2006 c 265 s 3

223.175 WRITTEN VOLUNTARY EXTENSION OF CREDIT CONTRACTS; FORM.
A written confirmation required under section 223.177, subdivision 2, and a written
voluntary extension of credit contract must include those items prescribed by the commissioner
by rule. A contract shall include a statement of the legal and financial responsibilities of grain
buyers and sellers established in this chapter. A contract shall also include the following statement
in not less than ten point, all capital type, framed in a box with space provided for the seller's
signature: "THIS CONTRACT CONSTITUTES A VOLUNTARY EXTENSION OF CREDIT.
THIS CONTRACT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY GRAIN BUYER'S BOND." If a written
contract is provided at the time the grain is delivered to the grain buyer, the seller shall sign
the contract in the space provided beneath the statement. A transaction that does not meet the
provisions of a voluntary extension of credit, including the issuance and signing of a voluntary
extension of credit contract, is a cash sale.
History: 1983 c 374 s 9; 2000 c 477 s 62

223.177 PURCHASE BY VOLUNTARY EXTENSION OF CREDIT CONTRACTS.
    Subdivision 1. Indication of intention. Every grain buyer who intends to purchase grain
by voluntary extension of credit contracts shall indicate the intention to do so annually to the
commissioner on a form provided by the commissioner.
    Subd. 2. Oral contracts. Any grain buyer entering into a voluntary extension of credit
contract orally or by phone shall give or mail to the seller a written confirmation conforming to
the requirements of section 223.175 before the close of the next business day.
    Subd. 3. Contracts reduced to writing. A voluntary extension of credit contract must be
reduced to writing by the grain buyer and mailed or given to the seller before the close of the next
business day after the contract is entered into or, in the case of an oral or phone contract, after the
written confirmation is received by the seller. Provided, however, that if a scale ticket has been
received by the seller prior to the completion of the grain shipment, the contract must be reduced
to writing within ten days after the sale, but not later than the close of the next business day after
the completion of the entire sale. The form of the contract shall comply with the requirements of
section 223.175. A grain buyer may use an electronic version of a voluntary extension of credit
contract that contains the same information as a written document and that conforms to the
requirements of this chapter to which a seller has applied an electronic signature in place of a
written document. There must not at any time be an electronic and paper voluntary extension of
credit contract representing the same lot of grain.
    Subd. 4. Grain, rights, or proceeds held. A licensed grain buyer purchasing grain by
voluntary extension of credit contracts shall at all times maintain grain, rights in grain, or proceeds
from the sale of grain totaling 90 percent of the grain buyer's obligation for grain purchased by
voluntary extension of credit contracts. That amount must be evidenced or represented by one
or more of the following:
(a) grain owned and actually held by the grain buyer in a grain warehouse owned or
controlled by the grain buyer;
(b) rights in grain evidenced or represented by warehouse receipts issued by a state or
federally licensed grain warehouse;
(c) cash on hand or cash held on account in federally or state licensed institutions;
(d) short-term investments held in time accounts with federally or state licensed institutions;
(e) balances on grain margin accounts;
(f) voluntary extension of credit contracts for grain shipped to a processor or terminal as
purchaser, less any payment or advance that has been received;
(g) an irrevocable letter of credit, as defined in section 336.5-102; or
(h) other evidence of proceeds from the sale of grain acceptable to the commissioner.
    Subd. 5. Value of grain. For the purpose of computing the dollar value of inventories of
voluntary extension of credit obligations, the value of grain must be figured at the current market
price on the day of delivery.
    Subd. 6. Transfer of title. The title to grain delivered on a voluntary extension of credit
contract transfers to the grain buyer upon delivery.
    Subd. 7. Storage charges prohibited. No storage charges may be charged with respect to
grain purchased on voluntary extension of credit contracts.
    Subd. 8. Records. A grain buyer shall keep sufficiently detailed books and records of
voluntary extension of credit contracts and evidences of grain, rights in grain, and the proceeds
from the sale of grain so as to clearly show compliance with this section. The commissioner or the
commissioner's authorized agent may inspect these books and records to determine whether grain
buyers are complying with the provisions of this chapter, and for this purpose the commissioner
may enter upon any public or private premises during regular business hours.
History: 1983 c 374 s 10; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 11 art 2 s 9; 2004 c 254 s 31

223.18 PENALTY.
A person buying grain without first obtaining a grain buyer's license is guilty of a
misdemeanor. Each day of operation without a grain buyer's license constitutes a separate offense.
In case of license revocation, no new license shall be granted to the person whose license was
revoked nor to anyone either directly or indirectly engaged with the person in the licensed
business for two years. A grain dealer who withholds records from the commissioner, keeps or
files records knowing them to be false, alters records fraudulently, or presents records to the
commissioner knowing them to be false, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
History: 1982 c 635 s 5; 1983 c 374 s 11,20; 1986 c 444

223.19 RULES.
The commissioner may make rules pursuant to chapter 14 to carry out the provisions of
sections 223.15 to 223.22.
History: 1982 c 635 s 6; 1983 c 374 s 12,20; 1984 c 640 s 32; 1997 c 7 art 5 s 19

223.20 REGULATION OF GRAIN BUYERS AND GRAIN STORAGE.
The commissioner may create a separate division within the Department of Agriculture for
the purpose of administering this chapter and chapter 232.
History: 1983 c 374 s 13

223.21 ATTORNEY GENERAL; ENFORCEMENT.
The attorney general, upon request of the commissioner, shall assist the commissioner in
enforcing this chapter.
History: 1983 c 374 s 14

223.22 INVESTIGATION; EDUCATION.
    Subdivision 1. Legislative investigation. The legislature recommends that the standing
committees of the house and senate with jurisdiction over agriculture investigate methods of
protecting producers when marketing grain using voluntary extension of credit contracts,
including establishment of a state administered trust fund, private insurance, or reinsurance,
and methods which grain buyers can use to protect themselves and grain producers from grain
price fluctuations.
    Subd. 2. Education. The commissioner shall make every effort to inform grain producers
and grain buyers of the protections and exposures which result from application of this chapter.
History: 1983 c 374 s 15