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Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
| Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $158,808 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $302,058,959 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the governor's pleasure |
| Authority: | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, Chapter 1, §2 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor, confirmed by the state legislature |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Amanda Beal | |
| Other Maine Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner • Superintendent of Insurance • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is a nonpartisan position in the Maine state government. The commissioner acts as head of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which deals with all aspects of the state's food system and is responsible for preserving, protecting, and enhancing Maine's land resources. In Maine, the commissioner is appointed by the governor with the approval of the state legislature.[1]
In 2012, the department of agriculture, conservation and forestry was formed from the merger of the department of agriculture and the department of conservation.[2] Maine Governor Paul LePage (R) announced his intentions to combine the two departments in the fall of 2011, saying a joint department could better serve industries related to farming and forestry and help them drive economic development.[2] The merger became law the following spring as part of a supplemental budget package.[2]
Current officeholder
The current Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry is Amanda Beal (nonpartisan). Beal assumed office in 2019.
Authority
The Maine Revised Statutes address the office of commissioner of agriculture, conservation and forestry in Title 7, Chapter 1, §2.[1]
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The commissioner shall be the chief administrative officer of the department. |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 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.
Appointments
As outlined in Title 7, Part 1, Chapter 1, §1 of the Maine State Statutes, the commissioner is nominated by the Governor of Maine, subject to review by the legislative committee on agriculture, conservation and forestry, as well as confirmation by a vote of the state legislature. The commissioner holds office at the pleasure of the governor.[3]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 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.
Duties
- See Energy policy in Maine for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.
The commissioner is responsible for overseeing the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which enforces agriculture and natural resource related regulations, while also working to protect those resources in the state of Maine.[4]
Divisions
- Updated January 20, 2021
- Bureau of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources
- Bureau of Forestry
- Bureau of Parks & Lands
- Bureau of Resource Information & Land Use Planning[5]
State budget
- See also: Maine state budget and finances
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $302,058,959.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $158,808, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $152,693, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $143,936, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner’s salary was $139,734, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $139,734, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $135,658, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $131,706, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $127,878, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $108,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner was paid an estimated $102,689, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner was paid an estimated $102,689, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2012
In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $102,689, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 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.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0022
Physical address:
18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building
Augusta, ME 04333-0022
E-mail: dacf@maine.gov
Phone: (207) 287-3200
Fax: (207) 287-2400
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 7, Chapter 1, §2," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bangor Daily News, "Maine’s Agriculture and Conservation departments to merge Aug. 30, but little will change" accessed August 30, 2012
- ↑ Maine State Statutes, "Title 7, Part 1, Chapter 1, §1," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, "About DACF," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, "Program Evaluation Report," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "2024-2025 Biennium," accessed January 17, 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, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of state governments, "Table 4.11 Selected state administrative officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of state governments, "Table 4.11 Selected state administrative officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
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