(1) There is hereby created within the Department of Agriculture the Arkansas Farm Mediation Office which shall administer the Arkansas Farm Mediation Program to provide mediation and debt management services to farmers and their creditors in the State of Arkansas.
(2) The program shall be administered by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture who shall employ mediators and administrative staff in such numbers as are necessary and as the General Assembly may appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(3) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture may apply to the United States Secretary of Agriculture or any other agency or department for any financial assistance for the administration and operation of the program.
(4) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or his or her designee shall select mediators who are knowledgeable in the areas of finance, agriculture, and negotiation and shall train them in any other matters as are necessary to carry out their functions under this chapter.
(5) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture may promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter.