§ 106-813.  North Carolina Dairy Stabilization and Growth Fund.

(a) The North Carolina Dairy Stabilization and Growth Fund is created as a nonreverting account in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Fund shall consist of any money appropriated to the Fund by the General Assembly and money made available to it from grants, donations, and other sources. The Board of Agriculture shall actively seek donations, grants, and other sources of money for the Fund.

(b) The Board shall use the monies in the Fund as follows:

(1) Up to two percent (2%) of the money appropriated annually by the General Assembly may be used by the Department for the costs of administering the Dairy Stabilization and Growth Program. In the event that the General Assembly does not make an appropriation to the Fund in a given year, up to two percent (2%) of the balance remaining in the Fund may be used by the Department for the costs of administering the Program.

(2) The monies remaining after administrative expenses are deducted shall be used to provide assistance to North Carolina dairy farmers in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 106-814.

(3) At the end of any fiscal year in which the total payments to North Carolina dairy farmers under G.S. 106-814 are less than fifty percent (50%) of the amount appropriated by the General Assembly for the year, five percent (5%) of the unspent appropriation for the year may be set aside for use in that year and subsequent years for programs to support the development of the dairy industry. (2006-139, s. 1.)