1. The agricultural development authority is established within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The authority is constituted a public instrumentality and agency of the state exercising public and essential governmental functions. The authority is established to undertake programs which assist beginning farmers in purchasing agricultural land and agricultural improvements and depreciable agricultural property for the purpose of farming, and programs which provide financing to farmers for permanent soil and water conservation practices on agricultural land within the state or for the acquisition of conservation farm equipment, and programs to assist farmers within the state in financing operating expenses and cash flow requirements of farming. The authority shall also develop programs to assist qualified agricultural producers within the state with financing other capital requirements or operating expenses. The powers of the authority are vested in and exercised by a board of eleven members with nine members appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate. The treasurer of state or the treasurer's designee and the secretary of agriculture or the secretary's designee are ex officio nonvoting members. No more than five appointed members shall belong to the same political party. As far as possible the governor shall include within the membership persons who represent financial institutions experienced in agricultural lending, the real estate sales industry, farmers, beginning farmers, average taxpayers, local government, soil and water conservation district officials, and other persons specially interested in family farm development.
2. The appointed members of the authority shall be appointed by the governor for terms of six years except that, of the first appointments, three members shall be appointed for terms of two years and three members shall be appointed for a term of four years. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term. A member is eligible for reappointment. An appointed member of the authority may be removed from office by the governor for misfeasance, malfeasance or willful neglect of duty or other just cause, after notice and hearing, unless the notice and hearing is expressly waived in writing. An appointed member of the authority may also serve as a member of the Iowa finance authority.
3. Five voting members of the authority constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members is necessary for any substantive action taken by the authority. The majority shall not include any member who has a conflict of interest and a statement by a member that the member has a conflict of interest is conclusive for this purpose. A vacancy in the membership does not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the authority.
4. The appointed members of the authority are entitled to receive a per diem as specified in section 7E.6 for each day spent in performance of duties as members, and shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties as members.
5. The appointed members of the authority and the executive director shall give bond as required for public officers in chapter 64.
6. Meetings of the authority shall be held at the call of the chairperson or whenever two members so request.
7. The appointed members shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson annually, and other officers as they determine, but the executive director shall serve as secretary to the authority. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve on the selection and tenure committee as provided in section 175.7.
8. The net earnings of the authority, beyond that necessary for retirement of its notes, bonds or other obligations or to implement the public purposes and programs authorized, shall not inure to the benefit of any person other than the state. Upon termination of the existence of the authority, title to all property owned by the authority including any net earnings shall vest in the state.
[C81, § 175.3; 82 Acts, ch 1243, § 3]
83 Acts, ch 101, § 32; 85 Acts, ch 15, §3; 86 Acts, ch 1026, § 3; 86 Acts, ch 1027, § 2; 86 Acts, ch 1245, § 629; 87 Acts, ch 23, § 4; 90 Acts, ch 1256, § 34; 96 Acts, ch 1029, § 1
Referred to in § 12.34, 175.2, 175.7
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