Illinois Statutes Chapter 505. Agriculture § 130/16. Assessments to defray costs of marketing program; maximum assessment; use of assessments; collection of assessments

§ 16. Any properly qualified marketing program shall provide for assessments against producers of the affected commodity to defray the costs of the activities provided for in the marketing program. Assessments authorized in a marketing program shall be based on the quantity of commodity produced and shall be equitably assessed against all affected producers. The total maximum assessment levied on the commodity of any affected producer shall not exceed 1/4 ¢ per bushel of soybeans produced and sold by that producer during the first year a program is in operation, 1/2 ¢ per bushel of soybeans produced and sold by that producer during the next 4 years a program is in operation and 1/2 of 1% of the net market price of soybeans produced and sold by that producer for all subsequent years. Assessments authorized in a marketing program shall not be used for political activity of any kind whatsoever or for preferential treatment of any person to the detriment of other persons in the marketing program. The program operating board may require the first purchaser of soybeans to withhold and remit such assessments to the board. A first purchaser remitting the assessments for any producer may deduct the proper amount of assessment from any amount which he owes to such producer. The program operating board shall have the power to cause any duly authorized agent or representative to enter upon the premises of any purchaser of soybeans and examine or cause to be examined by such agent only books, papers and records which deal in any way with respect to the payment of the assessment or enforcement of this Act.