Defined
Farming means the practice of agriculture on a property, and any associated buildings. Agriculture means the business, science, and art of cultivating and managing the soil; composting, growing, harvesting, and selling crops, and the products of forestry, horticulture, and hydroponics; breeding, raising, managing, or selling livestock, including horses, poultry, fish, game, and fur-bearing animals; dairying, beekeeping, and similar activities; and equestrian events and activities. Agriculture includes processing on the farm of an agricultural product to prepare the product for market and may cause a change in the natural form or state of the product. Farming includes the following accessory uses:
A. Accessory agricultural processing and storage of products grown or raised on-site or on property owned, rented, or controlled by the farmer. Accessory agricultural processing includes a milk plant, grain elevator, on-farm animal slaughtering, and mulch or compost production and manufacturing.
B. The sale of products of agriculture and agricultural processing, if products are produced on-site or on property owned, rented, or controlled by the farmer.
C. The sale of horticultural products grown off-site, but kept on the farm temporarily on a maximum of 2 acres or 20% of the site, whichever is less.
D. The delivery and installation of horticultural products grown on the farm.
E. The production and manufacturing of mulch or compost where a maximum of 50% of the materials used in accessory processing can come from off-site sources.
F. Accessory agricultural education and tourism activities conducted as a part of a farm's regular operations, with emphasis on hands-on experiences and events that foster increased knowledge of agriculture, including cultivation methods, animal care, water conservation, Maryland's farming history, the importance of eating healthy, and locally grown foods. Allowed activities include corn mazes, hay rides, and educational tours, classes, and workshops. The maximum footprint for any structure and the total footprint of all structures primarily used for education or tourism is limited to 10% of the total footprint square footage of all structures on the site used for agriculture. The property must have DPS approved sanitation facilities for this accessory use.
(Legislative History: Ord. No. 19-13, § 1.)