As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
All real property within the boundaries of Calvert County
that is lying in the Agriculture District or carried on the tax rolls
of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation as agricultural
or all other land that has been used as an agricultural operation
or forestry continuously for one year.
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION
Includes, but is not limited to, all matters set forth in
the definition of "operation" at Courts and Judicial Proceedings,
§ 5-508(a), of the Annotated Code, as amended from time
to time; the production of all matters encompassed within the definition
of "farm product" at Agriculture, § 10-601(c), of the Annotated
Code, as amended from time to time; the cultivation and tillage of
the soil; composting; production, harvesting and processing of agricultural
crops; raising poultry; production of eggs; production of milk and
dairy products; production of livestock, including pasturage; production
of bees and their products; production of fish; production of fruit,
vegetables and other horticultural crops; production of aquatic plants;
aquaculture; production of timber and any commercial agricultural
procedure performed as incident to or in conjunction with such operations,
including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market
or to carriers for transportation to market; and usage of land in
furtherance of educational and social goals, such as 4-H, Future Farmers
of America, and the like.
FORESTRY OPERATION
Includes, but is not limited to, the cultivation and production
of all matters, products etc., derived from the practice of forestry,
as encompassed within the definition of "practice forestry," as set
forth in Business Occupations and Professions, § 7-101(e),
of the Annotated Code, as amended from time to time.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED AGRICULTURAL OR FORESTRY PRACTICES
Those methods used in connection with agricultural or forestry
operations which do not violate applicable federal, state or local
laws or public health safety and welfare and which are generally accepted
agricultural or forestry practices in the agriculture or forestry
industry. "Generally accepted agricultural or forestry practices"
includes practices which are recognized as best management practices
and those methods which are authorized by various governmental agencies,
bureaus and departments, such as the Calvert County Cooperative Extension
Service of the University of Maryland, and the like. If no generally
accepted agricultural or forestry practice exists or there is no method
authorized by those agencies mentioned herein which govern a practice,
the practice is presumed to be a generally accepted agricultural or
forestry practice.
Section headings, chapter headings, titles, etc., are for the
purpose of description or ease of use and do not form a part of the
text of this chapter or any code or text adopted hereby.
Except to the extent specifically provided herein, this chapter
shall not discharge, impair or release any contract, obligation, duty,
liability or penalty whatever existing on the date of its enactment.
It is not intended hereby that the law of nonconforming use be changed,
or that the court's rule of construction concerning the application
of changes in the law during the pendency of actions be modified hereby,
but simply that this chapter should not effect a change between private
parties.