(a) Section 3(f) of the Act contains a very comprehensive definition
of the term ``agriculture.'' The definition has two distinct branches
(see Farmers Reservoir Co. v. McComb, 337 U.S. 755). One has relation to
the primary meaning of agriculture; the other gives to the term a
somewhat broader secondary meaning for purposes of the Act (NLRB v. Olaa
Sugar Co., 242 F. 2d 714).
(b) First, there is the primary meaning. This includes farming in
all its branches. Listed as being included ``among other things'' in the
primary meaning are certain specific farming operations such as
cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying the production,
cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural
commodities and the raising of livestock, bees, fur-bearing animals or
poultry. If an employee is employed in any of these activities, he is
engaged in agriculture regardless of whether he is employed by a farmer
or on a farm. (Farmers Reservoir Co. v. McComb, supra; Holtville Alfalfa
Mills v. Wyatt, 230 F. 2d 398.)
(c) Then there is the secondary meaning of the term. The second
branch includes operations other than those which fall within the
primary meaning of the term. It includes any practices, whether or not
they are themselves farming practices, which are performed either by a
farmer or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with ``such''
farming operations (Farmers Reservoir Co. v. McComb, supra; NLRB v. Olaa
Sugar Co., 242 F. 2d 714; Maneja v. Waialua, 349 U.S. 254).
(d) Employment not within the scope of either the primary or the
secondary meaning of ``agriculture'' as defined in section 3(f) is not
employment in agriculture. In other words, employees not employed in
farming or by a farmer or on a farm are not employed in agriculture.
Exemption for ``Primary'' Agriculture Generally
