(a) The commissioner of agriculture shall employ at least one (1) production and marketing specialist whose primary duty shall be the provision and coordination of technical assistance, support, and encouragement needed to promote and enhance the statewide development of nursery stock production and sales. At least once each year, the commissioner shall collect, publish, and distribute statistics relating to nursery stock production, marketing activities, and opportunities across the state. The commissioner shall provide other information to notify Tennesseans of the financial, managerial, marketing, regulatory, and administrative aspects of nursery stock production.(b) As used in this section, “nursery stock production” means growing or propagating ornamental trees, shrubs, and other perennial plants or parts of ornamental trees, shrubs, or plants for sale on a commercial basis.(c) To the extent feasible within existing budgetary resources, the University of Tennessee extension shall assist and cooperate with the department of agriculture in the provision and coordination of technical assistance, statistical, marketing and other information, support and encouragement necessary to promote and enhance the statewide development of nursery stock production.
