9-12-109. Promotion of agriculture.
(a) The council shall encourage and promote the development of agriculture in the state including horticulture, apiculture, livestock, poultry, dairying and the kindred industries and including the development of new value-added agribusiness and product uses and markets for Wyoming agricultural products.
(b) The council shall meet not fewer than two (2) times per year to solicit input from industry groups, the department of agriculture and the Wyoming governor's office to:
(i) Maintain a strategy to create small regionally located meat processing plants inspected by the United States department of agriculture or Wyoming department of agriculture and mid-to-large sized processing plants for in-state, interstate and international sales;
(ii) Market Wyoming grown or produced agricultural products in-state, regionally, nationally and internationally, through market development, trade shows and social media and other media outlets;
(iii) Enhance the council's website to promote Wyoming grown or produced agricultural products including match making services between key food system partners;
(iv) Contingent on available funds, provide loans or grants to be used to fund infrastructure for meat processing plants for international, in-state and interstate sales. Loans or grants under this paragraph shall:
(A) Provide funding to create, maintain or expand infrastructure for plants processing meat products for international, in-state or interstate sale;
(B) Be provided through a program administered by the council, including the Wyoming business ready community program, and subject to all applicable statutes and rules governing the program.
(v) Coordinate strategies to improve meat processing facilities and capabilities in Wyoming, including by providing technical assistance or expertise to assist producers and processors with constructing, maintaining, expanding, marketing and seeking federal grants and loans.
(c) Any meat processing facility receiving assistance under this section shall comply with all applicable state and federal regulations.
(d) The council shall submit a comprehensive report of the programs, objectives, activities and conditions covering the previous fiscal period to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee not later than October 1 annually.