Any funds that are appropriated for the encouragement of county, district agricultural association, or combined county and district agricultural association fairs which, pursuant to law, are apportioned by the department shall be paid monthly to the several eligible counties and district agricultural associations in such amounts as the department determines during the fiscal year in which the apportionment is made. The department shall make its determination of monthly amounts based on the relative need of the county or district agricultural association for the funds during the particular month. The monthly apportionment of funds on a need basis shall not result in an annual apportionment to a particular county or district agricultural association in excess of the amount otherwise payable. The aggregate of the monthly apportionments to each of the several counties and district agricultural associations shall not exceed the maximum apportionment for the year.
“Need”, as used in this section, means the combination of the current cash position of the fair and the time of year at which the annual fair is held.