(1) The department may issue certificates of exemption to any applicant who applies for an exemption and furnishes adequate evidence to the department that by reason of a marketing order the applicant has been adversely affected or unduly burdened or that the result of the marketing order is confiscatory by reason of acts beyond the applicant’s control or by acts beyond reasonable expectation.
(2) The department shall be permitted at any time to make a thorough investigation of any applicant’s claim pertaining to exemption.