The board shall have full power and authority to quarry, pulverize and sell or to purchase and resell to said farm owners in their respective counties, limestone for their use on their farms and may either sell same for cash, or on application of any farm owner in the county, written notice having been first given to the mortgage or lienholder and consent of said lienholders having been obtained in writing, which consent shall be filed in the office of the county auditor, provide agricultural lime, and deliver same to farm of applicant, payment for same to be provided for by a special assessment tax levy against the real estate so benefited in the amount of the sales value and transportation of said agricultural lime, which assessment shall be payable at the option of the owner of the farm or the owner’s legal heirs or assignees in its entirety on or before December 1 following the receipt of said lime or may be paid in five equal annual installments payable on October 1 of each succeeding year with the ordinary taxes until said special assessment is fully paid. The special assessment shall, by consent, be a lien prior to any lien or liens upon said real estate.