1. "Best management practices" means those methods that promote farm profitability, animal health and welfare, food product safety and environmental quality.

2. "Department" means the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.

3. "Fund" means the Maine Cattle Health Assurance Fund.

4. "Producer" means a Maine producer of dairy or beef products.

5. "Program" means the Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program; and be it further

Sec. 2. Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program developed; purpose. Resolved: That the department shall develop the Maine Cattle Health Assurance Program. The purpose of the program is to ensure the highest quality supply of dairy and beef products by encouraging all Maine producers to use best management practices. The department also shall develop a farm assessment plan that provides for on-site evaluations of farms to assess and suggest ways to improve the health of herds, protect the health and safety of herds from disease and protect farms from environmental liability. In developing the program, including the best management practices and the farm assessment plan, the department shall consult with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the University of Maine System and state and federal veterinarians. The department also shall receive and consider comments from Maine producers; and be it further

Sec. 3. Program participation. Resolved: That participation by a producer in the program is voluntary. The department shall certify those producers that successfully employ best management practices and complete the farm assessment. The certification must be done on an annual basis; and be it further

Sec. 4. Establishment of fund. Resolved: That there is established the Maine Cattle Health Assurance Fund within the department. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources may accept public and private funding for deposit into the fund to be used to support the program. The fund is a nonlapsing fund; and be it further

Sec. 5. Memorandum of understanding. Resolved: That the department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with