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2012 SESSION
12104068DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 3.2-300 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 3.2-6503.2 as follows:
§ 3.2-300. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Agricultural animal" or "livestock" means any domestic animal raised, herded, or farmed as an agricultural product or associated with agriculture, including equids, cows, calves, yearlings, bulls, oxen, sheep, goats, lambs, kids, hogs, pigs, poultry, gamefowl, fowl, hunting dogs, working dogs, and show dogs.
"Agricultural operation" means any owned or leased operation, facility, or land devoted to
the bona fide production or processing
of crops, or agricultural
products, animals, or fowl
including the production of fruits and vegetables of all kinds; meat, dairy,
and poultry products; nuts, tobacco, nursery, and floral products; and the
production and harvest of products from silviculture activity. "Agricultural operation" includes the
use of farm machinery, equipment, devices, chemicals, medications or devices
used for administering medications, products for agricultural use, and
materials or structures designed for agricultural use or housing and used in
accordance with generally accepted or traditional farm or sporting practices.
"Production agriculture and silviculture" means the bona fide production or harvesting of agricultural or silvicultural products but shall not include the processing of agricultural or silvicultural products or the above ground application or storage of sewage sludge.
"Traditional farm practice" means an accepted and customary standard established by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances, including notching, docking, tagging, dehorning, debeaking, shoeing, trimming, dubbing, castrating, penning, cooping, caging, tethering, herding, hauling, training, showing, and culling.
§ 3.2-6503.2. Regulation of care and handling of agricultural animals.
The Department occupies the entire field of regulation of the care, control, and handling of agricultural animals. No political subdivision, locality, or humane society shall regulate the care and handling of agricultural animals.