Sampling and testing; payment adjustments; rules. (1) The State Department of Agriculture shall promulgate rules including but not limited to rules providing that any producer may request the department to make an official milk fat content test of the milk the producer is selling to a dealer, milk handler or purchaser of milk. Official sample test periods used by the department shall correspond to the testing periods used by the dealer, handler or purchaser. At the time that the grader samples the milk, each sample shall be split. One portion of the split sample shall be placed in a separate container furnished and approved by the department. The container shall be sealed as required by the department and signed or initialed by both the producer and the grader. The split sample shall be forwarded by the dealer, handler or purchaser to the department at the expense of the producer and as prescribed by rules of the department. The department shall combine the samples for the period involved and make the official test requested of the composite group of samples. The department shall forward a copy of the test to the producer and a copy shall be mailed to the dealer, handler or purchaser submitting the sample. If the test performed and carried out by the department varies by more than one-tenth of one percent from the test made by the dealer, handler or purchaser, within the time prescribed by the department the dealer, handler or purchaser shall adjust and make proper payments to the producer based upon the official tests made by the department

(2) The department shall make official testing for milk fat similar to the testing described in subsection (1) of this section available to any other person subject to this chapter. [1965 c.474 §5; 1999 c.197 §60; 2013 c.85 §6]