An Act To Eliminate the Requirement That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Provide Technical Services for Direct-marketing Agricultural Products
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §414, as amended by PL 1985, c. 779, §34, is further amended to read:
§ 414. Assistance
The commissioner shall assist and advise individual farmers or groups of farmers in their efforts to market more effectively directly to consumers by ; :
1. Soliciting participation. Informing farmers of, and soliciting their participation in, any proposed method of direct-marketing; and
2. Technical assistance. Providing technical assistance in such areas as lease and contract negotiation; and
3. Referral. Referring farmers to other appropriate sources of assistance, such as the University of Maine System, College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture, the county extension association offices and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Summary
This bill removes the provision in the laws regarding the agriculture direct-marketing assistance program that requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to provide technical assistance for lease and contract negotiation.