The Commissioner or his authorized representative shall have authority to destroy, or in his discretion, to treat with pesticides volunteer or other noncommercial cotton and to establish procedures for the purchase and destruction of commercial cotton in elimination zones when the Commissioner deems such action necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Article. No payment shall be made by the Commissioner to the owner or lessee for the destruction or injury of any cotton which was planted in an elimination zone after publication of notice as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-65.74, or which was otherwise handled in violation of this Article or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. However, the Commissioner shall pay for losses resulting from the destruction of cotton which was planted in such zones prior to promulgation of such notice. (1975, c. 958, s. 9; 1977, c. 507, ss. 4, 5.)