Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 286 / Act 93 of 1981

Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472

Definitions.

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MICHIGAN RIGHT TO FARM ACT


Act 93 of 1981


286.472 Definitions.

Sec. 2.

    As used in this act:

    (a) "Farm" means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.

    (b) "Farm operation" means the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products, and includes, but is not limited to:

    (i) Marketing produce at roadside stands or farm markets.

    (ii) The generation of noise, odors, dust, fumes, and other associated conditions.

    (iii) The operation of machinery and equipment necessary for a farm including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage systems and pumps and on-farm grain dryers, and the movement of vehicles, machinery, equipment, and farm products and associated inputs necessary for farm operations on the roadway as authorized by the Michigan vehicle code, Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being sections 257.1 to 257.923 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

    (iv) Field preparation and ground and aerial seeding and spraying.

    (v) The application of chemical fertilizers or organic materials, conditioners, liming materials, or pesticides.

    (vi) Use of alternative pest management techniques.

    (vii) The fencing, feeding, watering, sheltering, transportation, treatment, use, handling and care of farm animals.

    (viii) The management, storage, transport, utilization, and application of farm by-products, including manure or agricultural wastes.

    (ix) The conversion from a farm operation activity to other farm operation activities.

    (x) The employment and use of labor.

    (c) "Farm product" means those plants and animals useful to human beings produced by agriculture and includes, but is not limited to, forages and sod crops, grains and feed crops, field crops, dairy and dairy products, poultry and poultry products, cervidae, livestock, including breeding and grazing, equine, fish, and other aquacultural products, bees and bee products, berries, herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, grasses, nursery stock, trees and tree products, mushrooms, and other similar products, or any other product which incorporates the use of food, feed, fiber, or fur, as determined by the Michigan commission of agriculture.

    (d) "Generally accepted agricultural and management practices" means those practices as defined by the Michigan commission of agriculture. The commission shall give due consideration to available Michigan department of agriculture information and written recommendations from the Michigan state university college of agriculture and natural resources extension and the agricultural experiment station in cooperation with the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service and the consolidated farm service agency, the Michigan department of natural resources, and other professional and industry organizations.

    (e) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity.

History: 1981, Act 93, Imd. Eff. July 11, 1981 ;-- Am. 1987, Act 240, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 1987 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 94, Eff. Sept. 30, 1995

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC
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Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp · cites it 5× “" Section 2(a) of the RTFA, MCL 286.472(a), defines "farm" as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Lima Twp v. Bateson (2013) michctapp · cites it 4× “[MCL 286.472 (emphasis added).] “Both the definitions for ‘farm’ and ‘farm operation’ employ the terms ‘farm product’ and ‘commercial production.”
Shelby Charter Township v. Papesh (2005) michctapp · cites it 3× “The RTFA defines “farm,” “farm operation,” and “farm product” in MCL 286.472: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structure, including ponds used for agricultural and aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial…”
Williamstown Township v. Hudson (2015) michctapp “” See MCL 286.472(2)(a). The Township does not challenge that conclusion.”
Richmond Township v. Erbes (1992) michctapp “The commission shall give due consideration to available Michigan department of agriculture information and written recommendations from the Michigan state university college of agriculture and natural resources cooperative extension service and the agricultural experiment…”
City of Troy v. Papadelis (1998) michctapp “After this Court issued its opinion, defendants appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court, arguing that this Court erred in finding that defendants could not continue to use the residential parcel for parking and other nursery-related uses. Defendants claimed that, since the time…”
Northville Township v. Coyne (1988) michctapp “MCL 286.472(1); MSA 12.122(2X1). The primary rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent.”
Jerome Township v. Melchi (1990) michctapp “See MCL 286.472(a),(b) and (c); MSA 12.122(2)(a),(b) and (c).”
Charter Township of White Lake v. Ciurlik Enterprises (2016) michctapp · cites it 11× “Pursuant to MCL 286.472, the RTFA defines a farm and farm operation as follows: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the…”
Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp · cites it 6× “” MCL 286.472(a), defines “farm” as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Lima Township v. Ernest K Bateson (2018) michctapp · cites it 5× “Similarly, a “farm operation” is defined to mean “the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products .”
Blakes Farm Inc v. Armada Township (2025) michctapp · cites it 2× “By its express language the definition of “farm operation” in MCL 286.472 is limited to that term as it is used in the RTFA.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(1) — 1 case
Northville Township v. Coyne (1988) michctapp “MCL 286.472(1); MSA 12.122(2X1). The primary rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(2)(a) — 1 case
Williamstown Township v. Hudson (2015) michctapp “” See MCL 286.472(2)(a). The Township does not challenge that conclusion.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(a) — 5 cases
Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp “" Section 2(a) of the RTFA, MCL 286.472(a), defines "farm" as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Jerome Township v. Melchi (1990) michctapp “See MCL 286.472(a),(b) and (c); MSA 12.122(2)(a),(b) and (c).”
Charter Township of White Lake v. Ciurlik Enterprises (2016) michctapp “Pursuant to MCL 286.472, the RTFA defines a farm and farm operation as follows: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the…”
Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp “” MCL 286.472(a), defines “farm” as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Lima Township v. Ernest K Bateson (2018) michctapp “Similarly, a “farm operation” is defined to mean “the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(b) — 6 cases
Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp “" Section 2(a) of the RTFA, MCL 286.472(a), defines "farm" as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Shelby Charter Township v. Papesh (2005) michctapp “The RTFA defines “farm,” “farm operation,” and “farm product” in MCL 286.472: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structure, including ponds used for agricultural and aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial…”
Township of Williamstown v. Sandalwood Ranch LLC (2018) michctapp “” MCL 286.472(a), defines “farm” as the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial production of farm products.”
Charter Township of White Lake v. Ciurlik Enterprises (2016) michctapp “Pursuant to MCL 286.472, the RTFA defines a farm and farm operation as follows: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the…”
Lima Township v. Ernest K Bateson (2018) michctapp “Similarly, a “farm operation” is defined to mean “the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(b)(iii) — 2 cases
Lima Twp v. Bateson (2013) michctapp “[MCL 286.472 (emphasis added).] “Both the definitions for ‘farm’ and ‘farm operation’ employ the terms ‘farm product’ and ‘commercial production.”
Lima Township v. Ernest K Bateson (2018) michctapp “Similarly, a “farm operation” is defined to mean “the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(c) — 3 cases
Lima Twp v. Bateson (2013) michctapp “[MCL 286.472 (emphasis added).] “Both the definitions for ‘farm’ and ‘farm operation’ employ the terms ‘farm product’ and ‘commercial production.”
Charter Township of White Lake v. Ciurlik Enterprises (2016) michctapp “Pursuant to MCL 286.472, the RTFA defines a farm and farm operation as follows: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the…”
Lima Township v. Ernest K Bateson (2018) michctapp “Similarly, a “farm operation” is defined to mean “the operation and management of a farm or a condition or activity that occurs at any time as necessary on a farm in connection with the commercial production, harvesting, and storage of farm products .”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 286.472(d) — 1 case
Shelby Charter Township v. Papesh (2005) michctapp “The RTFA defines “farm,” “farm operation,” and “farm product” in MCL 286.472: (a) “Farm” means the land, plants, animals, buildings, structure, including ponds used for agricultural and aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances used in the commercial…”
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