No person shall conduct an abstracter’s business unless the person owns, operates or controls an abstract plant consisting of tract indexes and other records, showing in brief comprehensive form, or full copy, all instruments of record or on file, affecting real estate in the county where he is bonded to transact business. The plant shall include an index, by name, covering district court and probate court records, transcripts of judgments, federal and state tax liens and other required information for the proper preparation of an abstract. The abstract plant may be maintained in bound books, looseleaf books, jackets, folders, on card files or film, or any other form or system, whether manual, mechanical, electronic or otherwise, or in any combination of such forms or systems. The abstract plant shall cover the period from twenty years prior to July 1, 1963, or twenty years prior to the date the abstracter commences business, whichever is later, up to date. The plant must also be currently maintained to include all daily filings in the county affecting real property.