Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
| Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $165,341 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $261,266,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Pennsylvania Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
Russell Redding | |
| Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Pennsylvania state government. The secretary is the head of the Department of Agriculture, and oversees the commonwealth's agriculture industry. The secretary is nominated by the governor, and confirmed by a two-thirds majority in the Pennsylvania Senate.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture is Russell Redding (nonpartisan). Redding assumed office in 2015.
Authority
Though the state Constitution does not specifically create the office of secretary of agriculture, it does allow for the addition of public officers in Article IV, Section 1:
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All officers, whose selection is not provided for in this Constitution, shall be elected or appointed as may be directed by law. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.
Appointments
The secretary of agriculture is not elected in Pennsylvania. The governor nominates a candidate to the state Senate, and the senate confirms the nominee by a two-thirds majority before the candidate takes the oath of office.[2]
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power to appoint officers to fill vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of agriculture secretary, the governor nominates a successor. This nomination must be made to the state Senate within 90 days of the vacancy. The senate must then take action (confirming or not confirming the nomination) within 25 legislative days.[3]
Duties
The primary mission of the Department of Agriculture is to encourage, protect, and promote "agriculture and related industries" throughout Pennsylvania. The department has regulatory oversight over many facets of the agriculture industry, including food processing, marketing, and transportation of food products. The staff also conducts health and safety inspections to ensure consumer protection.[4]
Divisions
As of February 2, 2021, the Department of Agriculture contains the following bureaus, commissions, or councils.
- Bureau of Administrative Services
- Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
- Bureau of Farmland Preservation
- Bureau of Food Distribution
- Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services
- Bureau of Market Development
- Bureau of Ride & Measurement Standards
- Bureau of Plant Industry
- Hardwood Development Council
- Bureau of Harness Racing
- Bureau of Horse Racing
- Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
- USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service
- Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
- Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission
- PA Equine Toxicology & Research Laboratory[5]
State budget
- See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances
The budget for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in Fiscal Year 2025 was $261,266,000.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The secretary's salary is set by statute and subject to cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs, pursuant to Section 3(e) of the Public Official Compensation Law (amended in 1995). This law mandates that Pennsylvania executives' salaries "shall be increased by applying the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent 12-month period for which figures have been officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) immediately prior to the date adjustment is due to take effect."[7]
Under this law, the appropriate salaries were last increased by 1.6 percent, effective January 1, 2015.[8]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $165,341, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $153,378, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $145,244, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $145,244, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $140,291, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $140,291, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $139,178, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $137,392, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $137,392, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $135,228, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $134,824, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2012
In 2012, the secretary was paid an estimated $131,992, according to the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $125,939, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Pennsylvania Secretary 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 information
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-787-4737
Bureau, Commission & Council Telephone Numbers
See also
| Pennsylvania | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Title 3 - Agriculture," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Title 3 - Agriculture," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Legislature, "Executive branch," February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, "About PDA," February 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, "Bureau Directors," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "2024-25 Enacted General Fund Tracking Run," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Senate Bill: Act 51 of 1995," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ The Pennsylvania Bulletin, "NOTICES: Statutory Cost of Living Increases for Salaries of State Officials and the Heads of Departments, Boards and Commissions," February 2, 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 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 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 December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments Book of the States, Chapter 4, Table 4.11," accessed June 14, 2011
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