(1) It is declared by the general assembly to be in the interest of the public welfare that Tennessee farmers who are producers of agricultural commodities shall be permitted and encouraged to act jointly and in cooperation with all purchasers, handlers, dealers, and processors of agricultural commodities in promoting, by advertising, research and other methods, the increased production, use and sale, both domestic and foreign, of any and all agricultural commodities.
(2) It is further declared by the general assembly that this chapter is permissive by allowing producers of each separate agricultural commodity to form separate and independent commodity promotion boards under this chapter, and that each such board shall operate its own separate and independent assessment program.