BYLAWS OF
Minnesota Fertilizer Research and Education Council
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the council shall be the Minnesota Fertilizer Research and Education Council (therein referred to as the “Council”) (18C.70).
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The program provides grants for research, education, and technology transfer projects related to agricultural fertilizer, soil amendments, and plant amendments. (18C.70)
This Council is organized and exists under and pursuant to develop and manage the Minnesota Fertilizer Research and Education Program.
The mission statement of the Council is “To fund research and education on agricultural fertility that is environmentally and economically sound” .
ARTICLE III – RESPONSIBLE STATE AGENCY
The Commissioner of Agriculture (therein referred to as Commissioner) is responsible for overseeing all fiscal activities. Additionally, the Commissioner is designated responsible for all fiscal and administrative duties during the first year of the program. The office of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is located at the Orville L. Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN.
ARTICLE IV – COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The council, as stipulated by 18C.70, is composed of twelve voting members from the following:
(1) two members of the Minnesota Crop Production Retailers;
(2) one member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association;
(3) one member of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association;
(4) one member of the sugar beet growers industry;
(5) one member of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers;
(6) one member of the potato growers industry;
(7) one member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau;
(8) one member of the Minnesota Farmers Union;
(9) one member from the Minnesota Irrigators Association;
(10) one member of the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association; and
(11) one member of the Minnesota Independent Crop Consultant Association or the
Minnesota certified crop advisor program.
Section 2: Council members must be nominated by their organizations and appointed by the commissioner (18C.70).
Section 3: The council may add ex-officio members at its discretion (18C.70).
Section 4: Ex-officio positions allowed and extended to the House Ag, Chairs, the Senate Ag Policy Chair, the Commissioners Office of the Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota Extension Service. Additional members may be added at the discretion of the Board.
ARTICLE V TERMS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Section 1:Council members shall serve three-year terms (18C.70).
Section 2: After the initial council is appointed, subsequent appointments must be staggered so that one-third of council membership is replaced each year (18C.70).
Section 3: Starting July 1, 2009, appointments must be staggered so that one-third of the Council is rotated each year.
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS
Section 1: The council must meet at least once per year, with all related expenses reimbursed by members' sponsoring organizations or by the members themselves (18C.70).
Section 2: Telecommunication constitutes presence at a Council meeting.
Section 3: No proxy voting shall be allowed at any meeting of the Council.
Section 4: Pre-designated alternates with voting privileges will be allowed.
Section 5: A quorum constitutes the presence of seven members of the Council.
ARTICLE VII OFFICERS
Section 1. Council officer positions are: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
Section 2: Starting July 1, 2009, officers will be elected each year.
Section 3: The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the Council.
Section 4: The Vice Chair shall serve in the absence of the Chair.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall supervise the keeping of the financial records of the Council.
Section 6: The Secretary shall supervise the keeping of the written records of the Council.
Section 7: Any officer of the Council who fails to attend the meetings or fails to carry out the responsibilities of the position may be removed at any regular or special meeting thereof by the majority vote of the entire Council.
ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1: Subject to Council approval, the Chair shall establish committees and appoint committee members.
Section 2: These by-laws may be amended at any time by the Council. Amendment alterations by the Council require two thirds of the entire Council voting in the favor thereof.
