OAR 660-033-0020: Definitions

For purposes of this division, the definitions in ORS 197.015, the Statewide Planning Goals, and OAR chapter 660 shall apply, unless the context requires otherwise. In addition, the following definitions shall apply: (1)(a) "Agricultural Land" as defined in Goal 3 includes: (A) Lands classified by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as predominantly Class I-IV soils in Western Oregon and I-VI soils in Eastern Oregon; (B) Land in other soil classes that is suitable for farm use as defined in ORS 215.203(2)(a), taking into consideration soil fertility; suitability for grazing; climatic conditions; existing and future availability of water for farm irrigation purposes; existing land use patterns; technological and energy inputs required; and accepted farming practices; and (C) Land that is necessary to permit farm practices to be undertaken on adjacent or nearby agricultural lands. (b) Land in capability classes other than I-IV/I-VI that is adjacent to or intermingled with lands in capability classes I-IV/I-VI within a farm unit, shall be inventoried as agricultural lands even though this land may not be cropped or grazed; (c) "Agricultural Land" does not include land within acknowledged urban growth boundaries or land within acknowledged exception areas for Goal 3 or 4. (2)(a) "Commercial Agricultural Enterprise" consists of farm operations that will: (A) Contribute in a substantial way to the area's existing agricultural economy; and (B) Help maintain agricultural processors and established farm markets. (b) When determining whether a farm is part of the commercial agricultural enterprise, not only what is produced, but how much and how it is marketed shall be considered. These are important factors because of the intent of Goal 3 to maintain the agricultural economy of the state. (3) "Contiguous" means connected in such a manner as to form a single block of land. (4) "Date of Creation and Existence". When a lot, parcel or tract is reconfigured pursuant to applicable law after November 4, 1993, the effect of which is to qualify a lot, parcel or tract for the siting of a dwelling, the date of the reconfiguration is the date of creation or existence. Reconfigured means any change in the boundary of the lot, parcel or tract. (5) "Eastern Oregon" means that portion of the state lying east of a line beginning at the intersection of the northern boundary of the State of Oregon and the western boundary of Wasco County, then south along the western boundaries of the Counties of Wasco, Jefferson, Deschutes and Klamath to the southern boundary of the State of Oregon. (6) "Exception Area" means an area no longer subject to the requirements of Goal 3 or 4 because the area is the subject of a site specific exception acknowledged pursuant to ORS 197.732 and OAR chapter 660, division 4. (7)(a) "Farm Use" as that term is used in ORS chapter 215 and this division means "farm use" as defined in ORS 215.203. (b) As used in the definition of "farm use" in ORS 215.203 and in this division: (A) "Preparation" of products or by-products includes but is not limited to the cleaning, treatment, sorting, or packaging of the products or by-products; and (B) "Products or by-products raised on such land" includes; (i) Products or by-products raised on the farm operation where the preparation occurs; (ii) Products or by-products raised on other farmland provided: (I) The preparation is occurring only on a tract currently employed for a farm use or farm uses other than preparation; and (II) Such products or by-products are prepared in the same facilities as and in conjunction with products or by-products raised on the farm operation where the preparation occurs. (8)(a) "High-Value Farmland" means land in a tract composed predominantly of soils that are: (A) Irrigated and classified prime, unique, Class I or II; or (B) Not irrigated and classified prime, unique, Class I or II. (b) In addition to that land described in subsection (a) of this section, high-value farmland, if outside the Willamette Valley, includes tracts growing specified perennials as demonstrated by the most recent aerial photography of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture taken prior to November 4, 1993. "Specified perennials" means perennials grown for market or research purposes including, but not limited to, nursery stock, berries, fruits, nuts, Christmas trees, or vineyards, but not including seed crops, hay, pasture or alfalfa; (c) In addition to that land described in subsection (a) of this section, high-value farmland, if in the Willamette Valley, includes tracts composed predominantly of the following soils in Class III or IV or composed predominantly of a combination of the soils described in subsection (a) of this section and the following soils: (A) Subclassification IIIe, specifically, Bellpine, Bornstedt, Burlington, Briedwell, Carlton, Cascade, Chehalem, Cornelius Variant, Cornelius and Kinton, Helvetia, Hillsboro, Hult, Jory, Kinton, Latourell, Laurelwood, Melbourne, Multnomah, Nekia, Powell, Price, Quatama, Salkum, Santiam, Saum, Sawtell, Silverton, Veneta, Willakenzie, Woodburn and Yamhill; (B) Subclassification IIIw, specifically, Concord, Conser, Cornelius Variant, Dayton (thick surface) and Sifton (occasionally flooded); (C) Subclassification IVe, specifically, Bellpine Silty Clay Loam, Carlton, Cornelius, Jory, Kinton, Latourell, Laurelwood, Powell, Quatama, Springwater, Willakenzie and Yamhill; and (D) Subclassification IVw, specifically, Awbrig, Bashaw, Courtney, Dayton, Natroy, Noti and Whiteson. (d) In addition to that land described in subsection (a) of this section, high-value farmland, if west of the summit of the Coast Range and used in conjunction with a dairy operation on January 1, 1993, includes tracts composed predominantly of the following soils in Class III or IV or composed predominantly of a combination of the soils described in subsection (a) of this section and the following soils: (A) Subclassification IIIe, specifically, Astoria, Hembre, Knappa, Meda, Quillayutte and Winema; (B) Subclassification IIIw, specifically, Brenner and Chitwood; (C) Subclassification IVe, specifically, Astoria, Hembre, Meda, Nehalem, Neskowin and Winema; and (D) Subclassification IVw, specifically, Coquille. (e) In addition to that land described in subsection (a) of this section, high-value farmland includes tracts located west of U.S. Highway 101 composed predominantly of the following soils in Class III or IV or composed predominantly of a combination of the soils described in subsection (a) of this section and the following soils: (A) Subclassification IIIw, specifically, Ettersburg Silt Loam and Crofland Silty Clay Loam; (B) Subclassification IIIe, specifically, Klooqueh Silty Clay Loam and Winchuck Silt Loam; and (C) Subclassification IVw, specifically, Huffling Silty Clay Loam. (f) Lands designated as "marginal lands" according to the marginal lands provisions adopted before January 1, 1993, and according to the criteria in former ORS 215.247 (1991), are excepted from this definition of "high-value farmlands"; (9) "Irrigated" means watered by an artificial or controlled means, such as sprinklers, furrows, ditches, or spreader dikes. An area or tract is "irrigated" if it is currently watered, or has established rights to use water for irrigation, including such tracts that receive water for irrigation from a water or irrigation district or other provider. For the purposes of this division, an area or tract within a water or irrigation district that was once irrigated shall continue to be considered "irrigated" even if the irrigation water was removed or transferred to another tract. (10) “Lot” shall have the meaning set forth in ORS 92.010. (11) “Manufactured dwelling” and “manufactured home” shall have the meaning set forth in ORS 446.003(26). (12) “NRCS Web Soil Survey” means the official source of certified soils data available online that identifies agricultural land capability classes, developed and maintained by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as of January 1, 2016, for agricultural soils that are not high-value, and as of December 6, 2007, for high-value agricultural soils. (13) “Parcel” shall have the meaning set forth in ORS 215.010. (14) “Tract” means one or more contiguous lots or parcels under the same ownership. (15) “Western Oregon” means that portion of the state lying west of a line beginning at the intersection of the northern boundary of the State of Oregon and the western boundary of Wasco County, then south along the western boundaries of the Counties of Wasco, Jefferson, Deschutes and Klamath to the southern boundary of the State of Oregon. (16) “Willamette Valley” is Clackamas, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill Counties and that portion of Benton and Lane Counties lying east of the summit of the Coast Range. [Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]