76-16-103. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Animal unit" means one cow, one horse, or five sheep, 6 months of age or older.

(2) "Animal unit month" or "AUM" means one cow/calf pair, one horse, or five sheep, grazed individually for 1 month, or an equivalency as determined by a local state district.

(3) "Assessment" means a special levy imposed on permittee members by the state district to raise funds for specific purposes as provided in 76-16-323(1). The term does not include fees.

(4) "Commensurate property" means land that is privately owned or controlled and that is not range.

(5) "Commission" means the Montana grass conservation commission provided for in 76-16-112.

(6) "Department" means the department of natural resources and conservation provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 33.

(7) "Dependent commensurate property" is commensurate property that:

(a) requires the use of range in connection with it to maintain its proper use;

(b) produces or whose owner furnishes as part of the owner's past customary practice the proper feed necessary to maintain livestock during the time other than the established grazing period on the range; and

(c) has been used in connection with the range for a 5-year period immediately preceding the date of organization of the state district.

(8) "Directors" means the board of directors of a state district provided for in 76-16-301.

(9) "Grazing preference" is a right to obtain a grazing permit from a state district, expressed in animal unit months. Grazing preferences, expressed in AUMs, must be the basis for determining a member's proportionate interest in state district assets.

(10) "Permits" are evidence of grazing privileges granted by state districts.

(11) "Person" means a natural person or persons, unincorporated associations, partnerships, corporations, and governmental departments or agencies.

(12) "Range" is the land within a state district upon which grazing permits are granted to maintain livestock through the established grazing period.

(13) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Montana grass conservation commission.

(14) "State district" means a nonprofit cooperative organization incorporated under this chapter and its board of directors. The term includes all lands owned or controlled by the state district or its members.