Maine § 351. - Definitions

§ 351.. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 2021, c. 143, §1 (NEW).]

1.  Commissioner.  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

2.  Department.  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

3.  Greenhouse gas.  "Greenhouse gas" has the same meaning as in Title 38, section 574, subsection 1.

4.  Greenhouse gas drawdown.  "Greenhouse gas drawdown" means greenhouse gas emissions source reduction or sequestration.

5.  Healthy soils best practices.  "Healthy soils best practices" means agricultural and land management practices that:

A. Enhance the continuing capacity of soils to function as a vital, living biological system, increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure, strengthen water holding and nutrient holding capacity, improve nutrient cycling and result in net long-term greenhouse gas drawdown;   [PL 2021, c. 143, §1 (NEW).]

B. Continuously improve the capacity of soils to host a diversity of beneficial organisms, grow vigorous crops, enhance agricultural resilience, including, but not limited to, the ability of crops and livestock to tolerate and recover from drought, temperature extremes, pests and other stressors, and help regulate the global climate by converting organic residue into stable soil organic matter and retaining nutrients, including, but not limited to, nitrogen and phosphorus;   [PL 2021, c. 143, §1 (NEW).]

C. Continuously improve the health of soils by considering all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, depth of topsoil horizons, water infiltration rate, water holding capacity, organic carbon content, biologically accessible nutrient content, bulk density, biological activity and biological and microbiological diversity; and   [PL 2021, c. 143, §1 (NEW).]

D. Follow the principles of minimizing soil disturbance and external inputs: keeping soil covered, maximizing biodiversity, maximizing the presence of living roots and integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects and keystone species, such as earthworms.   [PL 2021, c. 143, §1 (NEW).]