Levy of assessment on commodity sales.

A. The commission may assess, levy and collect an assessment, the amount of which shall not exceed the maximum stated in the petition for referendum, on all units, plants or animals of the commodity produced or handled within this state and sold in commercial channels. If the commission determines it is impractical to assess on units of the commodity sold into commercial channels, or on wire, twine, binding or packaging material, an assessment may be imposed on the producer. All casual sales of the commodity made by the producer direct to the consumer shall be exempt from the assessment. The amount of the assessment shall be determined by the commission and published annually. B. The assessment shall be levied and assessed to the producer at the time of sale and shall be deducted by the first purchaser from the price paid to the producer. In the case of assessments imposed on wire, twine, binding or packaging materials, the assessment shall be added to the purchase price by the seller and paid to the commission. In the case of acreage assessments, the amount shall be imposed on the producer at a time established by the commission and the producer shall pay the assessment directly to the commission.