Definitions

(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture. (b) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture. (c) "Division chief" means any departmental employee delegated by the commissioner as the head of a particular division of the department. (d) "License" includes the whole or part of any permit, approval, registration, or similar form of permission required by law to be issued by the department. (e) "Hearing" means that portion of the department's procedure in the disposition of matters delegated to its jurisdiction by law wherein a presentation of evidence and argument occurs, which is preceded by due notice and which includes both an opportunity to present to the department such written and oral testimony and argument as the department deems appropriate and an opportunity to examine and cross-examine any witness giving testimony therein. (f) "Contested case" means a proceeding in the department's disposition of matters delegated to its jurisdiction by law in which the legal rights, duties or privilege of a party are determined by the department after an opportunity for a hearing. (g) "Party" means each person or agency named or admitted as a party, or properly seeking and entitled as of right to be admitted as a party. (h) "Person" means any individual, corporation, political subdivision, governmental agency or authority, municipality, partnership, association, trust or estate, and any other entity, public or private, however organized.