FRANKFORT, Ky. - Recently, the Kentucky Legislature passed House Bill 20, which was introduced by Representative Carolyn Belcher. The bill served to expand the definition of "agriculture" and includes the horticultural industry in the bill.

Under the bill, the term "agriculture" now includes "the business of raising or producing horticultural crops." Furthermore, the bill expressed that both aquaculture (the science, art and business of raising aquatic organisms under controlled or semi-controlled conditions) and timber were part of agriculture.

The bill officially defines "horticulture" as "the business of raising fruits, nuts, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, herbs, and the starts or transplants needed to produce these items."

"The biggest thing for our industry is the term horticulture products. That definition is in there now and it wasn't before." said Betsie Taylor, Executive Director of the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association. "This means money for the industry and the industry as a whole will get more recognition"