In the United States, the agriculture commissioner refers to the head of a state's agriculture department, division, or agency. It is a state-level position within the executive branch of all 50 states. The title and duties of the office vary from state to state, but the general role is to oversee regulation of various facets of the agriculture industry as well as the promotion of state agribusiness. This state executive office is most commonly appointed rather than elected, with only 12 states using the ballot to select their agriculture commissioners. Besides commissioner, other titles assigned to the role of state agriculture chief include "director" and "secretary" (for example, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Missouri Director of Agriculture).
This page details the method of selecting agriculture commissioners across the country, which is available by clicking here. There is also an election history detailing Ballotpedia's coverage of agriculture commissioner elections dating back to 2010. Ballotpedia also covers the U.S. Department of Agriculture through our Executive Branch portal.
HIGHLIGHTS
Elected in 12 states; appointed by the governor in 38 states
The agriculture commissioner is appointed by the governor in 38 states, while elections are held for the position in the remaining 12.
According to compensation figures for 2023 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the largest salary for an agriculture commissioner was $232,858 in California, while the lowest was $90,000 in Mississippi. To view the compensation of a specific agriculture commissioner, hover your mouse cursor over the state.
Seven states held regularly scheduled agriculture commissioner elections in the 2014 electoral cycle: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, North Dakota, South Carolina and Texas. Republicans entered the election with all seven seats and retained these offices on November 4, 2014. Six incumbents ran for re-election and won while Sid Miller (R) replaced Todd Staples (R) in Texas.
2013
There were no agriculture commissioner elections in 2013.
Two states held scheduled agriculture commissioner elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: North Carolina and West Virginia.
No party changes resulted from either election. Incumbent Steve Troxler (R) won re-election in North Carolina and Walt Helmick(D) won election in West Virginia, replacing former officeholder Gus Douglass (D).
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