(a) In this section:
(1) “Combination” means a group of two or more public grain warehouses or facilities operated under a single set of complete records. For purposes of this chapter, a combination is treated as if it were a single public grain warehouse.
(2) “Facility” means two or more public grain warehouses located in close proximity on the same general location. For purposes of this chapter, and except when part of a combination, a facility is treated as if it were a single public grain warehouse.
(b) A warehouse operator may operate all public grain warehouses or facilities within an area no larger than 60 miles in diameter as a combination if a single license covering the combination is obtained from the department and:
(1) a single recordkeeping system covering only warehouses within the combination is maintained by the warehouse operator;
(2) a single, unique set of sequentially numbered receipts containing all information required by department rule and bearing the name of the license holder and a unique combination name, but not bearing individual warehouse or facility names, is used for the combination;
(3) for each scale operated by the warehouse operator, the warehouse operator issues and maintains a single, unique set of sequentially numbered scale weight tickets containing all information required by department rule and bearing the name of the license holder and a unique name identifying the facility where the scale is located;
(4) a single daily position report covering all storage obligations of the combination and only the combination, including company-owned grain, and containing all information required by department rule is maintained;
(5) all original warehouse operator records, except for scale weight tickets, relating to transactions or storage obligations involving the combination are maintained at a single location and separate from all other businesses and separately licensed warehouse operations of the warehouse operator; and
(6) except as provided by department rule, a single unique bond or bond substitute is used to cover the combination.

(c) Except as permitted while operating a combination, a warehouse operator may not combine or intermingle assets, storage obligations, liabilities of any kind, records or record entries, contractual obligations, other transactions of any kind, or any other business or operating information from different warehouses or businesses owned, managed, or operated by the warehouse operator. Each licensed combination or individually licensed facility shall be operated as a separate entity under a single, unique name and, except as provided by department rule, shall be covered by a single, separate bond or bond substitute.