§ 1. Short title

This chapter may be cited as the Sustainable Farming Act.

§ 2. Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words, terms, and phrases have the following meanings: (a) “Agricultural products” means fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, forage, ornamentals, aquaculture, (fish), trees, poultry, eggs, meat, and dairy products. (b) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner’s designee. (c) “Crop” means […]

§ 3. Legislative purpose

(a) The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the Virgin Islands, to include the protection of prime agricultural farmland necessary to promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare of the people of the Virgin Islands. (b) Floriculture and nursery industry. It is further declared that the […]

§ 4. Horticulture crops, nurseries, seeds/seedlings, livestock banks

(a) Horticulture crops produced by nurseries are considered “growing agricultural crops” for the purposes of this chapter. (b) For the purposes of this chapter, a nursery where the primary activity is planned production of horticultural crops is a farm. However, a retail nursery is not a farm, unless it is sustained in conjunction with a […]

§ 5. Purchase of equipment and supplies for farmers

(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall purchase and make available to agriculturists throughout the territory, by sale or on a rental basis, such items of equipment and supplies that, in the Commissioner’s discretion, will promote the farming industry and assist the farmers in maximizing the revenues of their farms. (b) The Commissioner shall provide for […]

§ 6. Responsibilities and requirements

(a) Every licensed farmer shall file a 1040 tax form, including a schedule F tax form whether or not he earned the income. A certified copy of the form or tax clearance letter must be presented with license renewal application each year. No farming license or certification may be renewed or issued before meeting this […]

§ 7. Land management: organic materials recycling program

(a) The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Waste Management Authority, must provide training on how to establish a recycling program, initiate, manage and maintain a recycling program of organic matter utilizing […]

§ 8. When agricultural operations do not constitute nuisance

(a) No agricultural operation or any of its appurtenances shall be or become a nuisance, private or public, if such operations are conducted in accordance with existing best management practices and comply with existing laws and regulations of the Territory. The provisions of this section do not apply whenever a nuisance results from the negligent […]