Alaska Director of Agriculture
| Alaska Director of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $124,449 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $7,161,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Natural Resources |
| Authority: | Alaska Statutes, Title 3, Chapter 9, Section 20 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Commissioner of Natural Resources |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Alaska Director of Agriculture
Bryan Scoresby | |
| Other Alaska Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Attorney General•Comptroller•Education Commissioner•Revenue Commissioner•Agriculture Director•Insurance Director•Natural Resources Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Regulatory Commission | |
The Alaska Director of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Alaska state government. The director is the head of the Division of Agriculture, part of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, which "promote[s] and encourage[s] development of an agriculture industry in the State." The director is not subject to a specific term limit, but serves at the pleasure of the commissioner of natural resources.[1][2]
Current officeholder
The current Alaska Director of Agriculture is Bryan Scoresby (nonpartisan). Scoresby assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The director of agriculture's authority is based in statute, which establishes him or her as the director of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation.[2]
Alaska Statutes, Title 3, Chapter 9, Section 20
| (a) The director of the division of agriculture of the department shall serve as the director of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation. The director may employ staff and, as directed by the board, is responsible for the daily operations of the agricultural revolving loan fund. |
Qualifications
State law does not require any particular qualifications of the director of agriculture.
Appointments
The director is appointed by the Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources "from a list of two or more candidates submitted by the board [of agriculture and conservation]."[2]
Alaska Statutes, Title 3, Chapter 9, Section 20
| (b) The director of agriculture shall be appointed to the partially exempt service by the commissioner from a list of two or more candidates submitted by the board. The commissioner may reject all candidates, in which case the board shall submit a new list. The director may be removed by the commissioner at any time, and the office shall remain vacant until a new director is appointed under this subsection. |
Vacancies
In case of vacancy, the Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources appoints a new director by the same process listed above.[2]
Duties
The director of agriculture, as head of the Division of Agriculture, is responsible for "[promoting] and [encouraging] development of an agriculture industry" in Alaska. He or she also serves as director of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation, which establishes the Division's policies.
The director's staff administers a variety of programs to encourage farming, including:[3][4]
- Low interest loans to Alaskan farmers under the Alaska Agricultural Loan Act
- Coordination with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to provide farmers with insurance.
- Aid for state agricultural and industrial fairs
- The "Farm to School" program, which educates youth about the food system.
- Enforcement of various food-related regulations
- Marketing services for Alaska farmers, including the "Alaska Grown" campaign to promote awareness of food grown in the state
- The Plant Materials Center, which produces and distributes "materials to meet environmental requirements and promote commercial development of native [Alaskan plant] species."[5]
- Other grants to promote innovation, specialty crop development and youth education.
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Alaska Director of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Alaska state budget and finances
The budget for the Division of Agriculture in Fiscal Year 2025 was $7,161,000.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $124,449, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $118,521, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $114,426, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $110,304 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $110,304 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $106,452 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $102,972 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $102,972 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary $124,488 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the director's salary remained at $121,716 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $121,716 according to the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Alaska Director of Agriculture has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact info
Address:
1801 S. Margaret Drive, Suite 12
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: (907) 745-7200
Fax: (907) 745-7112
See also
| Alaska | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Division of Agriculture, "Homepage," accessed January 6, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes 03.09.020," accessed January 6, 2020
- ↑ Alaska Division of Agriculture, "Programs," accessed January 6, 2020
- ↑ Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes, Title 3. Agriculture and Animals," accessed January 6, 2020
- ↑ Alaska Plant Materials Center, "Homepage," accessed January 6, 2020
- ↑ Alaska.gov, "CCS HB268," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
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