The
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry is an elected state executive position in the Louisiana state government. Commissioners are elected to a four-year term and are not subject to term limits.
The Department's mission is "to promote, protect and advance agriculture and forestry, and soil and water resources.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Mike Strain (R). He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011.
Authority
The Agriculture Commissioner's powers and duties are established by Article IV, Section 10 of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article IV, Section 10:
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| There shall be a Department of Agriculture. The commissioner of agriculture shall head the department and shall exercise all functions of the state relating to the promotion, protection, and advancement of agriculture, except research and educational functions expressly allocated by this constitution or by law to other state agencies. The department shall exercise such functions and the commissioner shall have other powers and perform other duties authorized by this constitution or provided by law.
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Qualifications
Article IV, Section 2 of the Louisiana Constitution establishes the qualifications for statewide elective office:
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To be eligible for any statewide elective office, a person, by the date of his qualification as a candidate, shall have attained the age of twenty-five years, be an elector, and have been a citizen of the United States and of this state for at least the preceding five years...During his tenure in office, a statewide elected official shall hold no other public office except by virtue of his elected office.
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- at least 25 years of age
- be an elector
- citizen of the United States and Louisiana for 5 years
- hold no other public office
Elections
Louisiana elects agriculture commissioners to four-year terms during gubernatorial election years. For Louisiana, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015 are all agriculture commissioner election years. Terms begin at noon on the second Monday in January following the election.
Vacancies
If a vacancy of less than one year occurs in the office, the position is filled by the first assistant. If a vacancy of greater than one year occurs an election takes place at the next regularly scheduled election, or, in none are scheduled within a year of the vacancy, a special election is called by the governor.
Duties
The agriculture commissioner is responsible for promoting, protecting, and advancing agriculture and forestry, as well as soil and water resources, in the state of Louisiana.
Divisions
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry is under control of the Commissioner of Agriculture. It also has a Deputy Commissioner and six Assistant Commissioners. The Department is divided into six offices, each led by an assistant commissioner.
Office of Agro-Consumer Services
- The Office of Agro-Consumer Services lists its mission as "perform functions relating to the regulation of weights and measures, the licensing of weighmasters, scale companies and technicians; the licensing and inspection of bonded farm warehouses and milk processing plants, and the licensing of grain dealers, warehouses and cotton buyers."[1]
| Contact Agro-Consumer Services | |
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| Assistant Commissioner Benjy Rayburn
Phone: 225-922-1341
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3098 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3098
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-923-4877
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Office of Animal Health and Food Safety
- The Office of Animal Health and Food Safety's mission is to "protect the public supply of meat and meat products and fish and fish products, to control and eradicate infectious diseases of animals and poultry, and to control livestock theft and nuisance animals."[1]
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| Deputy Commissioner/State Veterinarian Brent Robbins
Phone: 225-925-3962
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1951 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1951
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-925-4103
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Office of Forestry
- The office of Forestry's mission is to "protect, conserve and replenish the forest natural resources of the state."[1]
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| Assistant Commissioner/State Forester Wade Dubea
Phone: 225-925-4500
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1628
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-922-1356
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Office of Marketing and Agro-Economic Development
- The Office of Marketing and Agro-Economic Development's mission is to "promote the development and growth of markets for Louisiana agricultural and forestry products and to develop the channels of distribution through which these products are sold."[1]
| Contact Marketing and Agro-Economic Development | |
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| Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Phone: 225-922-1234
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 631
Baton Rouge, La. 70821-0631
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-922-1253
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Office of Soil and Water Conservation
- The Office of Soil and Water Conservation's mission is "to assist in the organization and administration of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in protecting the land, water and related resources of the state."[1]
| Contact Soil and Water Conservation | |
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| Assistant Commissioner Brad Spicer
Phone: 225-922-1269
Department Mailing Address: LIST ADDRESS HERE
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-922-2577
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Office of Management and Finance
- The Office of Management and Finance's mission is to "provide support services for the other offices of the department. These services provided include: fiscal, legal, procurement, property control, human resources, fleet and facility management, auditing, information technology, print shop and mail room, document imaging and district office clerical support."[1]
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| Assistant Commissioner Craig Gannuch
Phone: 225-922-1255
Department Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3481
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3481
Department Physical Address: 5825 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Fax: 225-925-6012
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Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article IV, Section 4 of the Louisiana Constitution defines the method by which the agriculture commissioner's compensation is set:
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Except as otherwise provided by this constitution, the compensation of each statewide elected official shall be provided by law. An increase in the salary of a statewide elected official shall not become effective until the commencement of the subsequent term for that office following the adoption or enactment of the increase.
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2012
In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $115,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture was paid an estimated $115,000 according to LaTrac.[2]
Historical officeholders
Contact information
P.O. Box 631
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Phone: 1-866-927-2476
Fax: 225-922-1234
Email: commissioner@ldaf.state.la.us
See also
External links
References
