<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-2401" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2030 PER CHAPTER 430 OF 2025" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="24" subtitle_name="Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (Leef) Program">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>“Community best practice” means a farm’s or farmer’s demonstrated engagement with Maryland communities as it relates to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The production, sale, or distribution of Maryland farm products; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Providing service to an organization whose focus is advancing Maryland’s agricultural industry, environmental outcomes, conservation practices, or agricultural research and education.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>“Conservation practice” means an agricultural practice that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Prevents or treats problems with soil, water, air, plant, or animal sources of pollution; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Has a standard method of construction or application that is developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and listed in the Service’s Maryland Field Office Technical Guide.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“Fixed natural buffer” means a strip of maintained, native vegetation alongside a body of water.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Fixed natural buffer” includes the following fixed natural filter practices:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The planting of riparian forest buffers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The planting of riparian herbaceous cover;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Tree plantings that are on agricultural land; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Wetland restoration.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Fixed natural buffer” does not include pasture management, as described under § 8–701(d)(5) of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>“100–foot tidal buffer” means any land within 100 feet of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The mean high water line of tidal waters;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The edge of each bank of a tributary tidal stream; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The landward boundary of a tidal wetland.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>“Program” means the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program established under § 2–2402 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
