(1) Any grower, who has submitted a return claiming benefit (whether accompanied by deposit or not) in respect of loss which he or she has represented to have been equal to or greater than the minimum statutory percentage and which, after assessment by the Authority, was found to be less than 1/2 of the minimum statutory percentage, may be required by the Authority during a period of 3 years thereafter to deposit with any further return claiming benefit made by him or her, as a condition for the consideration of such return by the Authority, a sum of $5 for every 1,000 mats or part thereof alleged by him or her in such last-mentioned return to have been damaged by windstorm.