1.    The commissioner may implement a program to promote agricultural commodities sustainably grown in North Dakota.

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 4.1-01-10

  • Commissioner: means the agriculture commissioner or the designee or authorized representative of the commissioner. See North Dakota Code 4.1-01-01
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

2.    If a program under subsection 1 is implemented, the program must require a producer to file an application with the commissioner. If a producer demonstrates the producer’s growing practices with respect to a particular commodity meet the commissioner’s established criteria for sustainability, the commissioner shall authorize the producer to label and market the commodity as being sustainably grown in North Dakota.

3.    The commissioner may develop, and make available for use by authorized producers, a logo indicating the commodity is sustainably grown in North Dakota. The commissioner may actively support and promote the sale and use of products identified as sustainably grown in North Dakota.

4.    The commissioner may establish and charge producers a fee for participating in the program. The commissioner shall forward all fees collected under this section to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund.

5.    The commissioner may engage in research and educate members of the public regarding agricultural commodities that are sustainably grown in this state.

6.    For purposes of this section, “sustainably grown” means a crop grown using research-based practices resulting in:

a.    Increased efficiencies in soil and nutrient preservation; b.    Decreased reliance on tillage and other soil-depleting practices; c.    Increased efficiencies in the use of water; d.    Increased efficiencies in the use of other necessary and measurable agricultural inputs; e.    Increased yield efficiencies; and

f.    Greater economic benefit to producers.