In addition to the definitions established by section 161A.3, as used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
 1. “Agricultural land” has the meaning assigned that term by section 9H.1.
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Terms Used In Iowa Code 161A.42

  • Agricultural land: has the meaning assigned that term by section 9H. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • cost-sharing: means a contribution of money made by the state in order to pay a percentage of the costs related to the establishment of voluntary or mandatory practices as provided under this chapter, including but not limited to soil and water conservation practices and erosion control practices. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Department: means the department of environmental quality in a reference to a time before July 1, 1983, the department of water, air and waste management in a reference to a time on or after July 1, 1983, and through June 30, 1986, and the department of natural resources on or after July 1, 1986, and includes any officer or agency within that department. See Iowa Code 172D.1
  • Erosion control practices: means :
     a. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Farm unit: means a single contiguous tract of agricultural land, or two or more adjacent tracts of agricultural land, located within a single soil and water conservation district, upon which farming operations are being conducted by a person who owns or is purchasing or renting all of the land, or by that person's tenant or tenants. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Farm unit soil conservation plan: means a plan jointly developed by the owner and, if appropriate, the operator of a farm unit and the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district within which that farm unit is located, identifying those permanent soil and water conservation practices and temporary soil and water conservation practices the use of which may be expected to prevent soil loss by erosion from that farm unit in excess of the applicable soil loss limit or limits. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Forest: means stands of native or introduced trees containing at least two hundred trees per acre and located on privately owned land. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Landowner: means a person who holds an interest in land, including a titleholder or tenant. See Iowa Code 169C.1
  • Loss: means the amount of a claim held by a seller or depositor against a grain dealer or warehouse operator which has not been recovered through other legal and equitable remedies including the liquidation of assets. See Iowa Code 203D.1
  • Maintenance: means the provision of shelter, food, water, or a nutritional formulation as required pursuant to chapter 717. See Iowa Code 169C.1
  • Owner: shall mean the person holding record title to real estate to include both legal and equitable interests under recorded real estate contracts. See Iowa Code 172D.1
  • Permanent soil and water conservation practices: means planting of perennial grasses, legumes, shrubs, or trees, the establishment of grassed waterways, and the construction of terraces, or other permanent soil and water practices approved by the committee. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • road: include public bridges, and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" "common road" and "state road". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Soil and water conservation practices: means any of the practices designated in or pursuant to this subsection which serve to prevent erosion of soil by wind or water, in excess of applicable soil loss limits, from land used for agricultural or horticultural purposes only. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • Soil loss limit: means the maximum amount of soil loss due to erosion by water or wind, expressed in terms of tons per acre per year, which the commissioners of the respective soil and water conservation districts determine is acceptable in order to meet the objectives expressed in section 161A. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Temporary soil and water conservation practices: means planting of annual or biennial crops, use of strip-cropping, contour planting, or minimum or mulch tillage, and any other cultural practices approved by the committee. See Iowa Code 161A.42
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. “Conservation agreement” means a commitment by the owner or operator of a farm unit to implement a farm unit soil conservation plan or, with the approval of the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district within which the farm unit is located, a portion of a farm unit soil conservation plan. The commitment shall be conditioned on the furnishing by the soil and water conservation district of technical or planning assistance in the establishment of and cost-sharing or other financial assistance for establishment and maintenance of the soil and water conservation practices necessary to implement the plan or a portion of the plan.
 3. “Cost-share” or “cost-sharing” means a contribution of money made by the state in order to pay a percentage of the costs related to the establishment of voluntary or mandatory practices as provided under this chapter, including but not limited to soil and water conservation practices and erosion control practices.
 4. “Erosion control practices” means:

 a. The construction or installation, and maintenance, of such structures or devices as are necessary to carry to a suitable outlet from the site of any building housing four or more residential units, any commercial or industrial development or any publicly or privately owned recreational or service facility of any kind, not served by a central storm sewer system, any water which:

 (1) Would otherwise cause erosion in excess of the applicable soil loss limit; and
 (2) Does not carry nor constitute sewage, industrial waste, or other waste as defined by section 455B.171.
 b. The employment of temporary devices or structures, temporary seeding, fibre mats, plastic, straw, or other measures adequate to prevent erosion in excess of the applicable soil loss limits from the site of, or land directly affected by, the construction of any public or private street, road or highway, any residential, commercial, or industrial building or development, or any publicly or privately owned recreational or service facility of any kind, at all times prior to completion of such construction.
 c. The establishment and maintenance of vegetation upon the right-of-way of any completed portion of any public street, road, or highway, or the construction or installation thereon of structures or devices, or other measures adequate to prevent erosion from the right-of-way in excess of the applicable soil loss limits.
 5. “Farm unit” means a single contiguous tract of agricultural land, or two or more adjacent tracts of agricultural land, located within a single soil and water conservation district, upon which farming operations are being conducted by a person who owns or is purchasing or renting all of the land, or by that person’s tenant or tenants. If a landowner has multiple farm tenants, the land on which farming operations are being conducted by each tenant is a separate farm unit. This definition does not prohibit land which is within a single soil and water conservation district and is owned or being purchased by the same person, or is being rented by the same tenant, from being treated as two or more farm units if the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district deem it preferable to do so.
 6. “Farm unit soil conservation plan” means a plan jointly developed by the owner and, if appropriate, the operator of a farm unit and the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district within which that farm unit is located, identifying those permanent soil and water conservation practices and temporary soil and water conservation practices the use of which may be expected to prevent soil loss by erosion from that farm unit in excess of the applicable soil loss limit or limits. The plan shall if practicable identify alternative practices by which this objective may be attained.
 7. “Forest” means stands of native or introduced trees containing at least two hundred trees per acre and located on privately owned land. However, a stand of fruit trees is not a forest.
 8. “Professional forester” means a forestry graduate of an institution of higher learning, who has a minimum of two years of forest management experience.
 9. “Soil and water conservation practices” means any of the practices designated in or pursuant to this subsection which serve to prevent erosion of soil by wind or water, in excess of applicable soil loss limits, from land used for agricultural or horticultural purposes only.

 a. “Permanent soil and water conservation practices” means planting of perennial grasses, legumes, shrubs, or trees, the establishment of grassed waterways, and the construction of terraces, or other permanent soil and water practices approved by the committee.
 b. “Temporary soil and water conservation practices” means planting of annual or biennial crops, use of strip-cropping, contour planting, or minimum or mulch tillage, and any other cultural practices approved by the committee.
 10. “Soil loss limit” means the maximum amount of soil loss due to erosion by water or wind, expressed in terms of tons per acre per year, which the commissioners of the respective soil and water conservation districts determine is acceptable in order to meet the objectives expressed in section 161A.2.
 11. “State forester” means a person employed by the department of natural resources as required by section 456A.13.
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