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Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture
| Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $144,991 |
| 2024-25 FY Budget: | $358,144,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the governor's pleasure |
| Authority: | Minnesota Statutes 15.06 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture
Thom Petersen | |
| Other Minnesota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Commerce Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Minnesota state government. The commissioner serves as head of the Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for food safety, regulation of crops, agricultural assistance, and promotion of state agricultural industries.
Their stated mission is "to enhance all Minnesotans’ quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength and resilience of our agricultural economy."[1]
Current officeholder
The current Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture is Thom Petersen (nonpartisan). Petersen assumed office in 2019.
Authority
The Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture's powers are derived from Chapter 17 of the Minnesota Statutes.[2]
Chapter 17, Section 1:
| There is created a Department of Agriculture, which shall be in the charge of a commissioner of agriculture, in this chapter called the commissioner,... |
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 Minnesota Commissioner 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.
Appointments
Per 15.06 of the Minnesota Statutes, the governor appoints the commissioner with the consent of the state Senate. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governor. His or her term expires at the end of the governor's term or if the governor vacates office.[2]
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 Minnesota Commissioner 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.
Duties
Duties and responsibilities include:[3]
- Promote development of agricultural industries
- Approve expenditures from state appropriations
- Investigate food-related complaints and require forfeiture, when necessary, of Minnesota food-handlers license
- Collect, compile and supply statistics and information
- Publish information deemed necessary to the development of agriculture
- Cooperate with federal agencies
- Cooperate with the Department of Trade and Economic Development to develop international ag markets
- Establish a program of agricultural diversification
- Promote nontraditional agricultural products
- Provide farm crisis assistance
- Establish Minnesota Grown logo to identify Minnesota products
- Appoint a deputy commissioner to act in the commissioner's absence
- Issue biennial report to the Governor and Legislature
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 Minnesota Commissioner 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.
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[4]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $144,991, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $144,435, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner’s salary was increased to $144,435, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $119,059, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner's salary remained at $108,388, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2012
In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $108,388, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2010
In 2010, the commissioner was paid an estimated $108,388, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Minnesota Commissioner 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
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
625 Robert St. North
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
Phone: 651-201-6000
Toll-free: 800-967-2474
Email: Thom.Petersen@state.mn.us
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Department of Agriculture, "Welcome to the Commissioner's Office," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Minnesota Legislature, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota Department of Agriculture, "Duties & Responsibilities of the Commissioner's Office," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 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 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 21, 2011
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