New Jersey Department of Agriculture

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is a state governmental agency that is responsible for the promotion and protection of agriculture and agribusiness in the state of New Jersey. The department oversees school meal programs, distributes surplus food from federal programs, oversees soil and water resources, maintains farmland for agricultural uses, assists in development of overseas markets for New Jersey products from its farms and fisheries, and administers agricultural education programs.

State of New Jersey
Department of Agriculture
Department overview
JurisdictionNew Jersey
Headquarters200 Riverview Plaza
3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08611
Department executive
Websitenj.gov/agriculture

As of 2023, the New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture is Joe Atchinson III.[1]

Organization

The department is jointly managed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture. The Secretary is responsible for managing and directing the work of the department. In addition, the Secretary is the department’s executive officer, serves as secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and is a member of the Governor's cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the State Board of Agriculture and is approved by the Governor. New Jersey is the only state in the nation where the farmer constituents of the Department of Agriculture set policy and actively manage the department and select its Secretary.

The State Board of Agriculture, an eight-member body created by statute in 1887, serves as the policy-making and general head of the department. The Board is charged with setting policies which direct the Secretary and the department in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. Each member serves a four-year term, with two members replaced annually by new members elected at the State Agricultural Convention and appointed by the Governor with the approval of the State Senate. By law, at least four of the members must represent the top four commodity groups in the state based on a two-year average of the gross value of production.

  • State Board of Agriculture
  • Secretary of Agriculture
    • Office of the Secretary
    • Agricultural and Natural Resources Division
    • Animal Health Division
    • Food and Nutrition Division
    • Marketing and Development Division
    • Plant Industry Division

Agricultural education

Also found at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is the Agricultural Education Division, led by Mrs. Nancy Trivette. The division oversees all agricultural education programs in New Jersey, as well as leading the New Jersey FFA Association. There are currently over 2,500 FFA members in the state of New Jersey spanning across 36 chapters.

New Jersey FFA Association Executive Board

The New Jersey Agricultural Education and FFA Executive Board is as follows:

  • State FFA Advisor: Mrs. Nancy Trivette
  • State FFA Specialist: Mrs. Erin Noble
  • State FFA Executive Assistant: Ms. Debra McCluskey

 

  • State FFA President: Myranda Bond, South Hunterdon FFA
  • State FFA Vice President: Morgan Rutar, Phillipsburg FFA
  • State FFA Secretary: Renée Stillwell, Allentown FFA
  • State FFA Treasurer: Jeremy Posluszny, Allentown FFA
  • State FFA Reporter: Zuri Richmond, Salem Co. Vo. Tech FFA
  • State FFA Sentinel: Josh Loew, Cumberland Regional FFA
  • State FFA Parliamentarian: Kelsey Stockton, Salem Co. Vo. Tech FFA

 

  • State FFA Executive Committee Chair: Hannah Mann, Salem Co. Vo. Tech FFA
  • State FFA Executive Committee: Tyler Kohlhaas, Cape May FFA
  • State FFA Executive Committee: Alyssa Ferraro, Sussex Tech FFA

 

  • Teacher Representative: Mr. John Neyhart, Monmouth County FFA

Commodities councils

The Division works closely with seven commodity councils to help them publicize their products and bring the benefits of grower-sponsored research to consumers. The funds are used by each council for product research and improvement, promotional point-of-purchase materials and special promotional events. These councils are funded by taxes levied on farmers, growers, and producers based on the quantity of goods produced. Grower-funded commodity councils have been established for apples, blueberries, milk, poultry, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and wine.[2] These include:

List of secretaries
  • Alva Agee (1916–1925)
  • William B. Duryee (1925–1938)
  • Willard H. Allen (1938–1956)
  • Phillip Alampi (1956–1982)
  • Arthur R. Brown Jr. (1982–2002)
  • Charles M. Kuperus (2002–2008)
  • Douglas H. Fisher (2009–2023)[3]
  • Joe Atchinson III (2023- )

References
  1. New Jersey Department of Agriculture, September 30, 2023
  2. "Commodity Councils". New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  3. "New Jersey selects new agriculture secretary". The Produce News. Cherry Hill, NJ. February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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