A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid by the market operator to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for each day, or fraction thereof, a sale is held, provided that an additional maximum fee of ten dollars ($10.00) per one-half hour, or fraction thereof, shall be paid to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for operation after 6:00 P.M. Provided further, that the Board of Agriculture may at its discretion adjust both fees for market operation within the limits set in this section. A fee to be set by the Board of Agriculture may be charged to the buyer of cattle and swine required to be tested under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-409 and 106-410, and the amount collected used to offset the twenty-five dollar ($25.00) market operation fee. All test fees charged in excess of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall revert to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and be payable within 24 hours following the close of a sale day. The starting and finishing time of each sale shall be recorded by the livestock inspector on his report of the sale. A copy of the report shall be given to the market operator or his representative following the sale. Failure to make the required payment within 24 hours following close of a sale day shall be cause for the Commissioner of Agriculture to prohibit, on 72 hours’ notice, further sales at the market until the account is paid in full. The operation fee shall be waived when a livestock market operator employs a licensed, accredited veterinarian approved by the State Veterinarian to be present at the market from the starting time of the sale until all livestock to be admitted to the sales barn on that sale day have entered and such work in inspection, testing and vaccination as designated by the State Veterinarian has been completed. (1971, c. 739, s. 3; 1997-261, s. 109.)