Section 96.01. Agricultural marketing act; definitions.

  As used in this chapter:

(1)  “Affected commodity" means any agricultural commodity for which the production, marketing, processing, handling, sale or distribution of is included under the terms of a marketing order or marketing agreement or a proposed marketing order or marketing agreement.

(2)  “Affected producer or handler" means any producer or handler of an affected commodity, except that it does not include a producer or handler not assenting to a marketing agreement.

(3)  “Agricultural commodity" means any agricultural, horticultural (excepting floricultural), viticultural, vegetable, poultry, and livestock products produced in this state, including for use as a bioenergy feedstock, including milk and milk products, bees and honey, or any class, variety or utilization thereof, either in their natural state or as processed by a producer for the purpose of marketing such product or by a processor, but not including timber and wood products, except timber and wood products used as a bioenergy feedstock.

(4)  “Assent" means a signed statement of affected producers or handlers consenting to the terms of a marketing agreement.

(4m)  “Bioenergy feedstock" means biomass used to produce energy, including transportation fuel, heat, or electricity.

(5)  “Handler" means any person engaged in the business of distributing or placing an agricultural commodity in commercial channels, or any person engaged in the business of processing an agricultural commodity.

(6)  “Marketing agreement" means an agreement entered into by the secretary under this chapter.

(7)  “Marketing order" means an order issued by the secretary under this chapter.

(8)  “Member-patron" means a person who is a member of a cooperative under ch. 185 or 193 and whose products are marketed through that cooperative.

(9)  “Producer" means any person engaged in the business of producing or causing to be produced for market in commercial quantities any agricultural commodity.

(10)  “Referendum" means any voting procedure under which affected producers or handlers may, by secret ballot, vote for or against the issuance, amendment or termination of a marketing order.

(11)  “Vote" means to cast a ballot in a referendum or an election.