In addition to the policy provided in Section 4-46-101, the Legislature finds and declares that:
Terms Used In Utah Code 4-18-102
Agriculture: means the science and art of the production of plants and animals useful to man, including the preparation of plants and animals for human use and disposal by marketing or otherwise. See Utah Code 4-1-109
Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
Livestock: means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, mules, poultry, domesticated elk as defined in Section 4-39-102, or any other domestic animal or domestic furbearer raised or kept for profit. See Utah Code 4-1-109
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
Sustainable agriculture: means agriculture production and practices that promote:
(a)
the environmental responsibility of owners and operators of farms, ranches, and feedlots; and
(b)
the profitability of owners and operators of farms, ranches, and feedlots. See Utah Code 4-18-103
(a)
the soil and water resources of this state constitute one of the state’s basic assets; and
(b)
the preservation of soil and water resources requires planning and programs to ensure:
(i)
the development and use of soil and water resources; and
(ii)
soil and water resources’ protection from the adverse effects of wind and water erosion, sediment, and sediment related pollutants.
(2)
The Legislature finds that local production of food is essential for:
(a)
the security of the state’s food supply; and
(b)
the self-sufficiency of the state’s citizens.
(3)
The Legislature finds that sustainable agriculture is critical to:
(a)
the success of rural communities;
(b)
the historical culture of the state;
(c)
maintaining healthy farmland;
(d)
maintaining high water quality;
(e)
maintaining abundant wildlife;
(f)
high-quality recreation for citizens of the state; and
(g)
helping to stabilize the state economy.
(4)
The Legislature finds that livestock grazing on public lands is important for the proper management, maintenance, and health of public lands in the state.
(5)
The Legislature encourages each agricultural producer in the state to operate in a reasonable and responsible manner to maintain the integrity of soil, water, and air.
(6)
The department shall administer the Utah Agriculture Certificate of Environmental Stewardship Program, created in Section 4-18-107, to encourage each agricultural producer in this state to operate in a reasonable and responsible manner to maintain the integrity of the state’s resources.
(7)
The Legislature finds that soil health is essential to protecting the state’s soil and water resources, bolstering the state’s food supply, and sustaining the state’s agricultural industry.
