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As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) “Agricultural activity” means a commercial enterprise of any agricultural related or associated entity.

(2)  “Agricultural facility” means any facility used for the marketing, processing, or production of agricultural products, or for providing agricultural support services.

(3)  “Agricultural land” means any land on which any agricultural operations is being conducted.  Land which has qualified for a use value assessment under the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 47:2301 et seq. shall be presumed to be agricultural land.

(4)  “Agricultural marketing” means the marketing or handling of agricultural products.

(5) “Agricultural operation” means any agricultural facility or agricultural land which is being used for agricultural production or agricultural processing and includes any facility used for the production and processing of crops or products thereof, livestock or products thereof, farm-raised fish and fish products, wood, timber or forest products, fowl or plants for breeding or sales, and poultry or poultry products for commercial or industrial purposes. “Agricultural operation” also includes the use of farm machinery, equipment, devices, chemicals, products for agricultural use, materials and structures designed for agricultural use and used in accordance with traditional farm practices.

(6)  “Agricultural processing” means the processing of any agricultural product and includes, but is not limited to, the slaughtering and processing of livestock and poultry, the elevation and drying of grain, the processing of sugar cane, and the ginning of cotton.

(7)  “Agricultural product” means crops, livestock, poultry, and aquacultural, floracultural, horticultural, silvicultural, or viticultural products.

(8)  “Agricultural production” means the commercial production of any agricultural products and includes the planting of cover crops, the leaving of land idle for the purpose of participating in government programs, normal crop or livestock rotation procedures, and the use of agricultural support services.

(9)  “Agricultural support services” means the aerial or surface application of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, lime, or other soil amendments; irrigation operations; or custom plowing, soil preparation or leveling, cultivation, or harvesting.

(10)  “Diminution in value” means an existent reduction of twenty percent or more of the fair market value or the economically viable use of, as determined by a qualified appraisal expert, the affected portion of any parcel of private agricultural property or the property rights thereto for agricultural purposes, as a consequence of any regulation, rule, policy, or guideline promulgated for or by any governmental entity.

(11)  “Established date of operation” means the date on which the agricultural operation, including forestry activities, commenced operation.  If the physical facilities of the agricultural operation, including forestry activities, are subsequently expanded, then the established date of operation for each expansion shall be deemed to be a separate and independent “established date of operation” as of the date of commencement of the expanded operation.  The commencement of the expanded operation shall not divest the agricultural operation of the previously established date of operation.

(12)  “Generally accepted agricultural practices” are practices conducted in a manner consistent with proper and accepted customs and standards as established and followed by similar agricultural operations in a similar community or locale and under similar circumstances.

(13)  “Governmental action” means annexation of territory by a governmental entity and the issuance of  a rule, regulation, policy, or guideline promulgated for or by any governmental entity, or an order or other legally binding directive having the force of law or capable of being enforced by government.  Governmental action does not mean the following:

(a)  A formal exercise of the power of eminent domain.

(b)  The adoption, enactment, repeal, or amendment of a statute or resolution by the legislature.

(c)  A governmental action directed or mandated by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d)  Law enforcement activity involving the seizure or forfeiture of private agricultural property for a violation of law or as evidence in a criminal proceeding.

(e)  An order issued as a result of a violation of law.

(f)  Actions taken to enforce a mortgage or other valid security device.

(g)  Actions taken in compliance with federal law or regulation.

(h)  A result of police power to prohibit activities that are harmful to the public safety and health.

(14)  “Governmental entity” means:

(a)  A board, authority, commission, department, office, or agency of the state government.

(b)  A local governmental subdivision with a population of less than four hundred twenty-five thousand.

(c)  A special purpose district.

(15)  “Owner”  means a person owning an interest in private agricultural property at the time a governmental action becomes effective as to the private agricultural property in which the owner owns an interest.

(16)  “Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity.

(17)  “Private agricultural property”  means bona fide agricultural or horticultural land that is assessed as such for parish ad valorem taxes as agricultural lands under homestead exemption that is wholly owned by a private citizen or citizens, or a privately or publicly held corporation, partnership, limited partnership, nonprofit corporation, or other legal entity and that is located outside the corporate limits of any municipality.

(18)  “Traditional farm practices” means those accepted and customary  standards established by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances using established best management practices.  Best management practices for animal feeding operations and confined animal feeding operations shall be determined by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in conjunction with the LSU AgCenter.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 95, §1; Acts 1995, No. 302, §1; Acts 2008, No. 515, §1.