South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources
| South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $152,944 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $91,765,685 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | The end of the term for which the appointing governor was elected, unless removed sooner |
| Authority: | Executive Reorganization Order 2021-03 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Hunter Roberts | |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of School and Public Lands • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources | |
The South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources is an appointed executive position in the South Dakota state government. The secretary heads the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, whose mission is "to protect and preserve agriculture, environment, and natural resources through effective regulatory services, natural resource conservation, and financial and technical assistance."[1] On January 19, 2021, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed Executive Order 2021-03, which merged the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources into the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, effective April 19, 2021.[2]
Current officeholder
The current South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources is Hunter Roberts (nonpartisan). Roberts assumed office in 2021.
Authority
On January 19, 2021, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed Executive Order 2021-03, which merged the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources into the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, effective April 19, 2021.[2] The position of the secretary within the department is established in Section 18.
Executive Order 2021-03, Section 18:
| Department created. There is hereby created a Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Secretary as head of department. The head of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources who shall be appointed and serve pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, Article IV, § 9.[2] |
Qualifications
Qualifications for this position are established in Chapter 1-41, Section 2.1 of the South Dakota Codified Laws.
Chapter 1-41-2.1:
| Qualifications of secretary. The secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall be qualified by training and experience to administer the programs of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and shall have such other qualifications as may be specified by statute.[3] |
Appointments
The secretary is appointed by the governor.[2]
Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs, and there are no laws for filling the vacancy, the governor appoints a new officeholder.
South Dakota Constitution, Article IV, Section 3:
| Vacancies. Whenever a vacancy occurs in any office and no provision is made by the Constitution or laws for filling such vacancy, the Governor shall have the power to fill such vacancy by appointment.[4] |
Duties
According to Chapter 1-41, Section 3.2 of the South Dakota Codified Laws, "The office is responsible for researching and developing factual information on issues affecting the State of South Dakota and its agricultural industry and the state's natural resources. The office may develop briefing documents, policy statements, and other informational documents for the secretary of agriculture and natural resources and the Governor on a variety of subjects, including:
- Federal legislative or regulatory issues;
- United States Department of Agriculture programs and policies;
- International trade and trade relations;
- Wetlands issues;
- Forestry and timber cutting issues;
- Endangered species issues;
- Railroad issues;
- Landowner rights issues;
- Animal depredation issues;
- Weed and pest control issues;
- Wilderness designation and development areas;
- Food quality, quantity, and protection issues;
- Environmental management issues; and
- Any other issue or problem designated by the secretary or the Governor."[5]
Divisions
As of April 20, 2021, divisions within the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources included:[6]
- Agriculture and Environmental Services
- Conservation and Forestry
- Office of Water
- Finance and Technical Assistance
State budget
- See also: South Dakota state budget and finances
The budget for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Fiscal Year 2025 was $91,765,685.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $152,944, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $134,848, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $131,687, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources 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
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Joe Foss Building
523 E Capitol Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-5559
See also
| South Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, "Office of the Secretary," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 State of South Dakota Office of the Governor, "Executive Order 2021-03," January 19, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Codified Laws," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Codified Laws," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, "Home Page," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2025," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ 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
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