A. Each registrant distributing fertilizer in this state shall file with the State Board of Agriculture, not later than the last day of January and July of each year, a semiannual inspection fee report setting forth the number of tons sold or distributed during the period and pay an inspection fee of One Dollar ($1.00) per ton of which fifty cents ($0.50) per ton shall be forwarded directly to a special Soil Fertility Research Account in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University for the purpose of conducting soil fertility research and extension involving efficient fertilizer use for agronomic crops and forages and groundwater and surface water protection from plant food nutrients. Oklahoma State University shall present an annual report to the Agriculture Committees of the Legislature on the use of the special Soil Fertility Research Account Fund.

B. Each registrant distributing commercial fertilizer in this state shall file with the State Board of Agriculture not later than the last day of January and July of each year, a semiannual tonnage report stating:

1. The number of net tons of fertilizer distributed during the preceding six (6) calendar months;

2. The amount in tons of each grade of fertilizer distributed during the preceding six (6) calendar months; and

3. Whether the fertilizer was distributed in bag, bulk, or liquid.

C. If no fertilizer was sold or distributed in this state for the semiannual period, the registrant shall submit a statement reflecting that information and shall remit a minimum fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00). If the inspection fee and tonnage report are not filed and the payment of the inspection fee is not made within thirty (30) days after the end of the specified filing period, a collection fee of ten percent (10%) of the inspection fee due or a minimum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) shall be assessed and added to the amount due.

D. Sales or exchanges between importers, manufacturers, distributors, registrants, or licensees are exempt.

E. When more than one person is involved in the distribution of a fertilizer, the last person who has the fertilizer registered and who distributed the fertilizer to a nonregistrant dealer or consumer is responsible for reporting the tonnage and paying the inspection fee, unless the report and payment is made by a prior distributor or manufacturer of the fertilizer.

F. If the Board finds any deficient inspection fees due as a result of an audit of the records of any person subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Fertilizer Act, the Board shall assess a penalty fee of ten percent (10%) of the amount due, with a maximum not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or a minimum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) whichever is greater. The audit penalty shall be added to the deficient inspection fees due and payment shall be made within thirty (30) days of notice of the deficiency.

G. No information furnished to the Board under this section shall be disclosed in a way which divulges proprietary information about the operation of any person.

H. Each registrant, distributor, or manufacturer shall keep accurate records of the tonnage of fertilizer distributed in this state.

Added by Laws 2000, c. 367, § 109, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 383, § 6, eff, July 1, 2002; Laws 2009, c. 314, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Laws 2016, c. 228, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2016.