Hope Township City Zoning Code
§ 20-29.4
Protected Farming Activities.
[Ord. #98-13, § I]
In accordance with the purposes and preambles set forth herein, it shall be presumed that uses, activities and structures associated with agriculture shall not constitute a public or private nuisance, provided that such agricultural uses are conducted in conformance with acceptable agricultural management practices as defined herein. Protected agricultural uses and activities shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to the following:
a.
Produce agricultural and horticultural crops, trees and forest products, livestock, poultry and other related commodities;
b.
Process and package the agricultural output of the farm;
c.
The use of land for the grazing of animals;
d.
Replenish soil nutrients, including but not limited to, the spreading of manure and applying federally approved chemical and organic fertilizers;
e.
Use federally approved products in accordance with labeled instructions as recommended by State, Federal or County bodies such as the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the control of pests, predators, varmints, diseases affecting plants and livestock, and for the control of weed infestation;
f.
Clear woodlands using open burning and other accepted techniques and install and maintain vegetative and terrain alterations and other physical facilities for water and soil conservation and surface water control in wetland areas;
g.
Use irrigation pumps and equipment and aerial and ground seeking and spraying, using tractors and other necessary equipment;
h.
Hire and utilize necessary farm labor;
i.
Construct fences;
j.
Conduct of on-site disposal of organic and agricultural waste, in accordance with guidelines issued by the New Jersey Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection;
k.
The utilization of tractors and other necessary equipment, and the transport of tractors and other large slow-moving equipment on the public roads within the Township;
l.
The creation of noise, odors and fumes inherently associated with agricultural uses;
m.
Conduct farming activities on holidays and Sundays as well as weekdays, in the evening and during the day, notwithstanding the production thereby of normal but unavoidable noise, dust, odors and fumes caused by such necessary activities in accordance with recognized agricultural practices.