(1) Upon the request of an accredited association or upon the request of a handler, the department shall provide for the mediation of the issues in dispute. The department shall take such steps as it considers expedient to effect a voluntary, amicable, and expeditious adjustment and settlement of the differences and issues between the association and the handler which could disrupt the normal sale and purchase of the agricultural commodity between producers and the handler. The department shall do all of the following:

    (a) Arrange for, hold, adjourn, or reconvene a conference or conferences between disputants and 1 or more of their representatives.

    (b) Invite the disputants and their representatives to attend the conference and submit, orally or in writing, the differences between the disputants.

    (c) Discuss the differences with the disputants or their representatives.

    (d) Assist in negotiating and drafting agreements for the adjustment and settlement of differences.

    (2) In implementing its duties under this section, the department may retain a competent individual to act on its behalf. If the department seeks to retain an individual to mediate a dispute, the department shall attempt to retain an individual who has experience in mediation and in agricultural marketing.

    (3) Where an individual is retained, the department shall establish his or her fee in advance.