The
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture is a state executive position in the North Carolina state government.
The Commissioner of Agriculture is the head of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and is a member of the Council of State.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Steve Troxler (R). He assumed office in February 2005 and won re-election in 2008 and 2012.
Authority
The position and duties of Commissioner of Agriculture are established by Article III, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution.
Article III, Section 7:
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| A Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Labor, and a Commissioner of Insurance shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State...
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Qualifications
Article VI, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
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| Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office.
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- Qualified North Carolina voter
- 21 years of age
Elections
North Carolina elects Agriculture Commissioners in Presidential election years. For North Carolina, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 are all agriculture commissioner election years. They are elected to a four-year term, which begins the first day of January following the election.
2012
- See also: North Carolina down ballot state executive elections, 2012
Incumbent Steve Troxler (R) successfully won re-election, defeating Walter Smith (D) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture General Election, 2012 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Democratic |
Walter Smith |
46.8% |
2,025,054 |
| |
Republican |
 Steve Troxler Incumbent |
53.2% |
2,303,586 |
| Total Votes |
4,328,640 |
| Election Results via NC State Board of Elections. |
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article III, Section 7.
If a vacancy occurs in the office, the Governor appoints another to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first election for members of the General Assembly that occurs more than 60 days after the vacancy has taken place, and the person chosen shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term fixed in this Section.
Duties
The Commissioner of Agriculture is in charge of the 1,400+ employees and 17 divisions that make up the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Their primary goal is "maintaining and enhancing the ability of agriculture to produce an adequate supply of food and fiber in North Carolina," as well as enforcing regulatory programs.[1]
Divisions
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is under control of the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Department has 19 main divisions.[2]
Agricultural Statistics Division
- The mission of the Agricultural statistics Division is "to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to North Carolina and U.S. agriculture."
| Contact Agricultural Statistics | |
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Herb Vanderberry, Director
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 27767 Raleigh, NC 27611
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: 919-856-4394
Email: NCagstat@ncagr.gov
Fax: 919-856-4139
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Agronomic Services Division
- The Agronomic Services Division "analyzes soil samples, plant, solution and irrigation water samples, and animal, municipal and industrial wastes. Recommendations made by these services are designed to improve production efficiency and protect natural resources."
| Contact Agronomic Services | |
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Colleen M. Hudak-Wise, Director
Mailing Address: 1040 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1040
Physical Address: 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh NC 27607-6465
Phone: 919-733-2655
Email: colleen.hudak@ncagr.gov
Fax: 919-733-2837
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Budget and Finance Division
- The Budget and Finance Division is in charge of all business affairs of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
| Contact Budget and Finance | |
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Terri Overton, Director
Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: 919-707-3030
Fax: 919-715-0026
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Emergency Programs Division
- The mission of the Emergency Programs Division is to "reduce the vulnerability to or the impact from, any disaster, disease or terrorist attack on North Carolina’s food and agriculture sector."
| Contact Emergency Programs | |
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| Sharron Stewart, Director
Mailing Address:1035 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-807-4300
Fax: 919-807-4303
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Environmental Programs Division
- The Environmental Programs Division advises the Commissioner, Chief Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture on environmental related issues.
| Contact Environmental Programs | |
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Dewitt Hardee, Manager
Mailing Address: 1005 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-707-3071
Fax: 919-716-0105
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Food Distribution Division
- The Food Distribution Division distributes USDA commodities to eligible Recipient Agencies through nine food programs.
| Contact Food Distribution | |
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Gary Gay, Director
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 659, Butner, North Carolina 27509-0659
Physical Address: 2582 W. Lyon Station Road, Creedmoor, North Carolina 27522
Phone: 919-575-4490
Fax: 919-575-4143
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Food and Drug Protection Division
- The Food and Drug Protection Division "assures consumers that foods, feeds, drugs, cosmetics, and automotive antifreezes are safe, wholesome and properly labeled."
| Contact Food and Drug Protection | |
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Daniel L. Ragan, Director
Mailing Address: 1070 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1070
Physical Address: 4000 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh NC 27607-6465
Phone: 919-733-7366
Fax: 919-733-6801
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Human Resources
- Human Resources provides support to the department's divisions in all areas of personnel administration.
| Contact Human Resources | |
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| Ben Harward, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh , NC 27699-1001
Physical Address:2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-733-2243
Fax: 919-715-4295
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Marketing Division
- The [Marketing Division] "promotes the sale of North Carolina products, develops and expands markets, reports farm market prices on major commodities, and determines and certifies official grades of farm products."
| Contact Marketing | |
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Tom Slade, Director
Mailing Address: 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1020
Physical Address: 2 W. Edenton Street, Room 402, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: 919-707-3100
Fax: 919-733-0999
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Meat and Poultry Inspection Division
- The Meat and Poultry Inspection Division enforces state Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Laws, ensures that meat and poultry plants meet state inspection guidelines, and undertakes enforcement actions as appropriate.
| Contact Meat and Poultry Inspection | |
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Donald H. Delozier, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street , Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-733-4136
Email: Pamela.Flood@ncagr.gov
Fax: 919-715-0246
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NC State Fair
- The NC State Fair takes place every October. During the rest of the year, fair buildings and grounds are rented to provide capital to operate the fairgrounds at a break-even point and to fund ground improvements.
| Contact State Fair | |
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Wesley Wyatt, Manager
Mailing Address: 1010 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1010
Physical Address: 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raleigh NC 27607
Phone: 919-821-7400
Fax: 919-733-5079
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Plant Industry Division
- The mission of the Plant Industry Division is "to ensure seed and fertilizer and other soil additives offered for sale in North Carolina meet prescribed standards and are truthfully labeled, to protect the state’s agriculture and natural environment from introduced plant pests, including insects, diseases and noxious weeds, and to enhance and protect our state’s endangered and threatened plants."
| Contact Plant Industry | |
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| Gene B. Cross, Director
Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1060
Physical Address: 216 West Jones Street, Raleigh NC 27603
Phone: 919-733-3933
Fax: 919-733-1041
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Property and Construction Division
- The mission of the Property and Construction Division provides support to all of the Department's divisions in the areas of Property and Construction.
| Contact Property and Construction | |
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Kent Yelverton, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Physical Address:2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-807-4368
Fax: 919-807-4364
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Public Affairs Division
- The Public Affairs Division serves as the central point of contact for the news media. They are responsible for news releases, interviews, fact sheets, web pages and other communication materials.
| Contact Public Affairs | |
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Brian Long, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: 919-707-3001
Fax: 919-733-5047
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Research Stations Division
- The mission of the Research Stations Division is "To manage crop and livestock facilities that serve as a platform for agriculture research to make farming more efficient, productive, and profitable, while maintaining a sound environment and providing consumers with safe
and affordable products."
| Contact Research Stations | |
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| Edward Pitzer, Director
Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Physical Address:2 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-733-3236
Email: eddie.pitzer@ncagr.gov
Fax: 919-733-1754
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Office of Small Farms
- The Office of Small Farms "provides services to small, limited-resource and minority farmers who are traditionally underserved. These services are provided through outreach and education to assist this audience in making informed decisions and providing advocacy for those who do not have a voice."
| Contact Small Farms | |
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Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: 919-707-3065
Fax: 919-716-0105
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Standards Division
- The [Research Stations Division] "is a regulatory agency responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Weights and Measures Act (G.S. 81A), the Gasoline and Oil Inspection Law (G.S. 119), and the LP-Gas Inspection Law (G.S. 119 Article 5)."
| Contact Research Stations | |
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Stephen Benjamin, Director
Mailing Address:1050 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1050
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-733-3313
Fax: 919-715-0524
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Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division
- The Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division regulates the pesticide and pest control industry by licensing commercial operators and administering laws governing the industry.
| Contact Structural Pest Control and Pesticides | |
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James W. Burnette, Jr., Director
Mailing Address: 1090 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1090
Physical Address: 2109 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 919-733-6100
Fax: 919-733-0633
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Veterinary Division
- The Veterinary Division administraters regulatory animal health programs and its diagnostic laboratory system.
| Contact Veterinary | |
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Dr. David Marshall, State Veterinarian
Mailing Address:1030 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1030
Physical Address: 2 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-733-7601
Fax: 919-733-2277
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State budget
The budget for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Fiscal Year 2013 was $91,170,486.[3]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article III, Section 9 defines the method by which the Agriculture Commissioner's compensation is set:
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| The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.
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2012
In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $123,198. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner was paid an estimated $123,198 according to the Council of State Governments.[4]
Former officeholders
Since the office was established in 1877, North Carolina has had 16 agriculture commissioners
Click "show" for former officeholders.
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Name
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Took office
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Left office
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Party
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| 1
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Leonidas L. Polk
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1877
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1880
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| 2
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Montford McGehee
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1880
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1887
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John Robinson
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1887
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1895
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Samuel L. Patterson
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1895
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1897
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James M. Mewborn
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1897
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1898
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John R. Smith
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1898
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1899
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Samuel L. Patterson
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1899
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1908
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William A. Graham
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1908
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1923
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Democrat
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William A. Graham, Jr.
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1923
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1937
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William Kerr Scott
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1937
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1948
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Democrat
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| 11
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David S. Coltrane
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1948
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1949
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| 12
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Lynton Y. Ballentine
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1949
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1964
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Democrat
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| 13
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James A. Graham
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1964
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2000
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| 14
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Meg Scott Phipps
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2001
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2003
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Democrat
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| 15
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Britt Cobb
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2003
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2005
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Democrat
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| 16
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Steve Troxler
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2005
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Present
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Republican
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Contact information
Physical Address:
2 West Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Mailing Address:
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Phone: (919) 707-3000
See also
External links
References
- ↑ North Carolina Department Of Agriculture and Consumer Services, "The Role of the Commissioner of Agriculture," retrieved May 14, 2011
- ↑ North Carolina Department Of Agriculture and Consumer Services, "Divisions," retrieved May 14, 2011
- ↑ North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, "2011-2013 Post Legislative Budget Summary," accessed April 13, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved May 7, 2011
