3 Pa.C.S. § 603
This is the official text of 3 Pa.C.S. § 603, part of Pennsylvania’s Pa.C.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Pennsylvania, published by the state as "Pa.C.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Definitions.
Official statutory text
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agricultural erosion and sedimentation plan." An erosion and sedimentation plan established under The Clean Streams Law.
"Best management practices." A practice or combination of practices determined by the commission to be effective and practicable, given technological, economic and institutional considerations, to manage and conserve land, water and related resources and to manage nutrients to protect surface water and groundwater, taking into account applicable nutrient requirements for crop utilization. Best management practices shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Conservation tillage.
(2) Crop rotation.
(3) Soil testing.
(4) Manure testing.
(5) Diversions.
(6) Manure storage facilities.
(7) Storm water management practices.
(8) Nutrient application.
(9) Stream bank fencing.
(10) Riparian buffers.
(11) Pasture livestock watering systems where stream bank fencing is installed.
(12) Odor barriers.
(13) Development of a voluntary nutrient or odor management plan.
(14) Manure management plans.
(15) Agricultural erosion and sedimentation plans.
(16) Federal conservation plans.
"Commission." The State Conservation Commission established by the Conservation District Law.
"Conservation District Law." The act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.547, No.217), known as the Conservation District Law.
"Eligible borrower." Any person, individual, partnership, corporation or legal entity who has an interest in property in this Commonwealth, who engages in agricultural operation in this Commonwealth, who has legal and financial responsibility for the agricultural operation and who has developed an approved nutrient management plan under Chapter 5 (relating to nutrient management and odor management), a manure management plan or an agricultural erosion and sedimentation plan or other commission-approved Federal or State conservation program or approved best management practices.
"Lending institution." Any financial institution that is authorized to issue commercial loans, is a State depository approved by the Board of Finance and Revenue and enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for participation in the Agriculture-Linked Investment Program. The term includes any agricultural credit association affiliated with the Farm Credit Bank, a federally chartered instrumentality pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-181, 12 U.S.C. § 2001 et seq.), as amended, that enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for participation in the Agriculture-Linked Investment Program.
"Manure management plan." A manure management plan established under The Clean Streams Law.
"Nutrient management plan." A written site-specific nutrient plan approved by the commission or its delegated agent which incorporates best management practices to manage the use of plant nutrients for crop production and water quality protection consistent with the criteria established under
"Agricultural erosion and sedimentation plan." An erosion and sedimentation plan established under The Clean Streams Law.
"Best management practices." A practice or combination of practices determined by the commission to be effective and practicable, given technological, economic and institutional considerations, to manage and conserve land, water and related resources and to manage nutrients to protect surface water and groundwater, taking into account applicable nutrient requirements for crop utilization. Best management practices shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Conservation tillage.
(2) Crop rotation.
(3) Soil testing.
(4) Manure testing.
(5) Diversions.
(6) Manure storage facilities.
(7) Storm water management practices.
(8) Nutrient application.
(9) Stream bank fencing.
(10) Riparian buffers.
(11) Pasture livestock watering systems where stream bank fencing is installed.
(12) Odor barriers.
(13) Development of a voluntary nutrient or odor management plan.
(14) Manure management plans.
(15) Agricultural erosion and sedimentation plans.
(16) Federal conservation plans.
"Commission." The State Conservation Commission established by the Conservation District Law.
"Conservation District Law." The act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.547, No.217), known as the Conservation District Law.
"Eligible borrower." Any person, individual, partnership, corporation or legal entity who has an interest in property in this Commonwealth, who engages in agricultural operation in this Commonwealth, who has legal and financial responsibility for the agricultural operation and who has developed an approved nutrient management plan under Chapter 5 (relating to nutrient management and odor management), a manure management plan or an agricultural erosion and sedimentation plan or other commission-approved Federal or State conservation program or approved best management practices.
"Lending institution." Any financial institution that is authorized to issue commercial loans, is a State depository approved by the Board of Finance and Revenue and enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for participation in the Agriculture-Linked Investment Program. The term includes any agricultural credit association affiliated with the Farm Credit Bank, a federally chartered instrumentality pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-181, 12 U.S.C. § 2001 et seq.), as amended, that enters into an agreement with the State Treasurer for participation in the Agriculture-Linked Investment Program.
"Manure management plan." A manure management plan established under The Clean Streams Law.
"Nutrient management plan." A written site-specific nutrient plan approved by the commission or its delegated agent which incorporates best management practices to manage the use of plant nutrients for crop production and water quality protection consistent with the criteria established under
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Pennsylvania?
Find a Pennsylvania lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.