(a) “District” or “soil and water conservation district” means a governmental subdivision of this state, and a public body, corporate and politic, organized in accordance with the provisions of this article, for the purposes, with the powers and subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth.

(b) “Commissioner” means one of the members of the governing body of a district, elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(c) “Committee” or “State Soil and Water Conservation Committee” means the state and soil and water conservation commission as renamed under the provisions of Section 67-27-2 and created in Section 69-27-9.

(d) “Petition” means a petition filed under the provisions of Section 69-27-15 for the creation of a district.

(e) “Nominating petition” means a petition filed under the provisions of Section 69-27-31 to nominate candidates for the office of commissioner of a soil and water conservation district.

(f) “State” means the State of Mississippi.

(g) “Agency of this state” includes the government of this state and any subdivision, agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the government of this state.

(h) “United States” or “agencies of the United States” includes the United States of America, the United States Department of Agriculture, and any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

(i) “Government” or “governmental” includes the government of this state, the government of the United States, and any subdivision, agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of either of them.

(j) “Landowner” or “owner of land” includes any person, firm or corporation who shall hold legal or equitable title to any lands lying within a district organized under the provisions of this article.

(k) “Land operator” or “operator of land” includes any person, firm or corporation, other than the owner, who shall be in possession of any lands lying within a district organized under the provisions of this article, whether as lessee, renter, tenant or otherwise.

(l) “Due notice” means notice published at least three (3) times with an interval of at least seven (7) days between each publication date, in a newspaper of general circulation within the area where the land proposed to be included in a conservation district is located, or if no such newspaper or general circulation be available, by posting at a reasonable number (not less than five (5)) of conspicuous places within such area, such posting to include posting one (1) copy upon the bulletin board of the courthouse of each county where any of the lands in such proposed district may be located. Notice shall also be given by United States mail to all of the landowners of the proposed district or the district of any hearing or election. At any hearing held pursuant to such notice, at the time and place designated in such notice, adjournment may be made from time to time without the necessity of renewing such notice for such adjourned dates.