Legal Definitions - tillage

In legal contexts, tillage refers to land that is actively being cultivated or prepared for cultivation. It specifically denotes ground that is being worked for agricultural purposes, distinguishing it from land that is left uncultivated, used for grazing animals (pasture), or lying fallow (unplanted for a season to restore fertility).

• Example 1: A farmer owns a large property and decides to plant soybeans. Before planting, he uses a tractor to plow and harrow a specific section of his land, breaking up the soil and preparing it for the seeds.

  Explanation: This prepared section of land is considered tillage because it is actively being worked and cultivated for agricultural production, in contrast to any untouched wooded areas or grazing fields on the same property.

• Example 2: A local government is updating its zoning ordinances and categorizes different types of land use. One category is "Agricultural Production Zone," which permits activities like crop farming. Within this zone, specific parcels are designated as "prime tillage land."

  Explanation: Here, "prime tillage land" legally identifies areas particularly suitable for and dedicated to active crop cultivation, differentiating them from other agricultural lands that might be used for orchards, vineyards, or livestock grazing.

• Example 3: Two neighboring landowners are involved in a boundary dispute. One landowner claims a strip of land has always been part of their family's farm, pointing to historical records showing it was regularly plowed and planted with corn for decades. The other landowner argues the strip was never actively farmed and was merely overgrown brush.

  Explanation: The first landowner is asserting that the disputed strip was historically under tillage, meaning it was consistently cultivated for crops. This argument emphasizes its long-standing use as actively farmed land to support their claim of ownership or easement rights, contrasting it with uncultivated or wild land.