New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Department of Agriculture and Markets
Department overview
Formed April 29, 1926 (1926-04-29)
Jurisdiction New York
Department executive
  • Richard Ball, commissioner
Key document
Website agriculture.ny.gov

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is the department of the New York state government that enforces laws relating to agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, weights and measures, and the production, processing, transportation, storage, marketing and distributing of food.[1] Its regulations are compiled in title 1 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations.

Structure

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee is an independent agency within the department that supports natural resources management through the support of soil and water conservation districts, which represent each of the 57 counties of New York and New York City (for the 5 counties thereof).[2]

A vineyard of the Seneca Lake AVA

History

The department's progenitor was the 1884 New York State Dairy Commission that inspected dairy production and sales facilities, which was abolished in 1893 and its functions transferred to the Department of Agriculture that inspected farms, set agricultural quality standards, and operated agricultural experiment stations.[3][4][5] A separate Department of Foods and Markets was established in 1914 to set standards for grading and selling food, supervise markets, and publish information on dairy prices and marketing methods.[6] In 1917, these two departments and the 1851 Office of State Superintendent of Weights and Measures were consolidated into the Department of Farms and Markets, headed by the Council of Farms and Markets.[7] The current Department of Agriculture and Markets was established as part of the 1926 reorganization of government under Governor Al Smith and was transferred the functions of the Department of Foods and Markets as well as the State Fair Commission.[8] In 1935 the Council of Farms and Markets was abolished and the power to appoint the commissioner transferred to the governor.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Agriculture and Markets Law § 16
  2. ↑ Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law § 1 et seq.
  3. ↑ Karpiak, Christine (2005). Eisenstadt, Peter; Moss, Laura-Eve, eds. The Encyclopedia of New York State. Syracuse University Press. p. 36.
  4. ↑ Chapter 202, Laws of 1884, enacted April 24, 1884
  5. ↑ Chapter 338, Laws of 1893, enacted April 10, 1893
  6. ↑ Chapter 245, Laws of 1914, enacted April 8, 1914
  7. ↑ Chapter 802, Laws of 1917, enacted June 9, 1917
  8. ↑ Chapter 646, Laws of 1926, enacted April 29, 1926
  9. ↑ Benjamin, Gerald (2012). The Oxford Handbook of New York State Government and Politics. p. 390. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195387230.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-538723-0.
  10. ↑ Chapter 16, Laws of 1935, effective February 4, 1935
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