Md. Code Regs. 15.20.07.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 15.20.07.03 - Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Agricultural operation" means a business or activity that:

(a) Tills, crops, keeps, pastures, or produces an agricultural product, including livestock, poultry, plants, trees, sod, food, feed, or fiber by in-ground, out-of-ground, container, or other culture; and

(b) Has a gross annual income of $2,500 or more, or has eight or more animal units.

(2) "Animal unit" means the unit of measure equivalent to 1,000 pounds of live animal weight.

(3) Annual implementation report means the end of cropping season report that an operator, using a Department-created form, must file with the Department by March 1 of each year, providing certain information about the agricultural operation for the previous calendar year.

(4) "Biosolids" means any thickened liquid, suspended or settled solid, or dried residue extracted from sewage at a sewage treatment plant, including domestic sewage, that:

(a) Contains recognized plant nutrients, or liquid byproducts, that meet federal and State regulations for beneficial use by land application or other methods; and

(b) Is regulated as sewage sludge pursuant to the Environment Article, § 9-201 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland.

(5) "Certified farm operator" means an individual certified by the Department under this subtitle to prepare a nutrient management plan solely for agricultural land that the individual:

(a) Owns;

(b) Operates; or

(c) Has a legal interest in.

(6) "Certified nutrient management consultant" or "consultant" means an individual certified by the Department under this subtitle to prepare a nutrient management plan.

(7) Chemical Fertilizer.

(a) "Chemical fertilizer" means a manufactured or blended nutrient source, usually in granular or liquid form, containing a guaranteed analysis of primary nutrients.

(b) "Chemical fertilizer" does not include a product blended from all natural organic fertilizer sources.

(8) "Department" means the Maryland Department of Agriculture or its designee.

(9) "Expected crop yield" means a realistic crop yield for the agricultural operation determined by using yield records or soil productivity information.

(10) "Fertilizer" means a substance containing any recognized primary plant nutrient used for its plant nutrient content and designed for use in promoting plant growth.

(11) "Manure management" means operations and conditions specific to an agricultural operation that has animals, or uses animal manure or waste nutrients from animal production. The purpose of manure management in nutrient management planning is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of nutrient utilization and to minimize the potential for nutrient loss from the management of animals or their manure and associated waste nutrients. Guidelines for manure management are described in the Maryland Nutrient Management Manual, Section III-C.

(12) "Nutrient management plan" means a plan prepared by a certified nutrient management consultant or certified farm operator to manage the amount, placement, timing, and application of animal manure, fertilizer, biosolids, or other plant nutrients in order to:

(a) Minimize nutrient loss or runoff; and

(b) Maintain the productivity of soil when growing agricultural products.

(13) "Operator" means a person who manages or owns an agricultural operation.

(14) "Person" means the State, any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State, or any of their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation, or any other entity, unless otherwise provided.

(15) "Plant production goal" means a statement of the estimated length of time that plants will be grown, and some appropriate measure of expected plant size, such as height or diameter.

(16) "Primary nutrients" means a plant food that is essential for normal plant growth and includes total nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P₂O₅), and soluble potash (K₂O).

Md. Code Regs. 15.20.07.03

Regulation .03B amended effective April 16, 2001 (28:7 Md. R. 692)
Regulation .03B amended as an emergency provision effective December 22, 2004 (32:2 Md. R. 144); amended permanently effective April 11, 2005 (32:7 Md. R. 684); amended effective 47:20 Md. R. 877, eff. 10/5/2020