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CURRENT FUNCTIONS. The Department of Agriculture and Markets has the responsibility to regulate, conduct research on, and promote agriculture in New York State. In order to regulate agriculture, the department monitors and inspects production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and enforces related laws.

The department conducts research on conditions of rural life, the quality of farm land, and improving techniques for production and marketing. The department promotes agriculture by publicizing agricultural products and business, assisting in the organization and operation of cooperative associations among producers and consumers, and sponsoring the New York State Fair.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. This department evolved from a series of state agencies beginning with the establishment of the Dairy Commission in 1884 (Chapter 202). The commission, headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor, was empowered to regulate agriculture by inspecting dairy production and sales facilities in order to ensure product quality.

An 1893 law (Chapter 338) abolished the Dairy Commission and merged its functions with a new Department of Agriculture headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor. The law also transferred the State Meteorology Bureau and Weather Service to the department. The new department had responsibility to regulate agriculture by investigating methods to ensure product quality by inspecting production and setting standards for product quality, support research by State agricultural experimental stations and meteorological and weather observation stations, and to promote agriculture through the distribution of State funds granted to the State and county agricultural societies. In 1913, the commissioner of agriculture was granted the power to issue subpoenas and hold hearings on violations.

In 1914 (Chapter 245) a separate Department of Foods and Markets was created. Headed by a commissioner chosen by the governor, this department regulated agriculture by investigating food production and marketing costs; establishing standards for grading, handling, storing, and selling of foodstuffs; supervising auction markets; publishing bulletins on daily prices and production and marketing methods; and investigating facilities for transporting produce within the State.

A major reorganization occurred in 1917 (Chapter 802) when a Department of Farms and Markets was established, consolidating the Department of Agriculture and Foods and Markets, the office of the state superintendent of weights and measures (created in 1851), and certain responsibilities of the Department of Health relating to food. The new department was headed by a Council of Farms and Markets, the original members of which were appointed by the governor. Upon expiration of their terms, new council members were elected by the legislature. The department consisted of a Division of Agriculture and a Division of Foods and Markets, each headed by a commissioner appointed by the council. In addition to the powers and functions of the previously mentioned agencies, the department was responsible for ensuring a sufficient supply of milk for urban centers, regulating the conduct of agricultural exchanges and boards of trade, and mediating controversies between producers and distributors.

In 1926 (Chapter 646) the current Department of Agriculture and Markets was established as part of the reorganized State government. It assumed all the functions and powers of the Department of Farms and Markets, which was abolished. A Council of Agriculture and Markets became the executive body with the power to appoint a chief administrative officer known as the commissioner of agriculture and markets. The State Fair Commission, created in 1909, was also transferred to the new department. In 1935 (Chapter 16) an amendment to the agricultural law provided for the appointment of the commissioner by the governor and abolished the Council of Agriculture and Markets.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets has the responsibility to regulate, conduct research on, and promote agriculture in New York State. In order to regulate agriculture, the Department establishes and enforces standards for production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and enforces other agriculturally related laws. The Department conducts research on conditions of rural life, the quality of farm land, and techniques for production and marketing. The Department promotes agriculture by publicizing agricultural products and business, assisting in the organization and operation of cooperative associations among producers and consumers, and sponsoring the State Fair.

An 1893 law (Chapter 338) abolished the Dairy Commission and merged its functions with a new Department of Agriculture headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor. The law also transferred the State Meteorology Bureau and Weather Service to the department. The new department had responsibility to regulate agriculture by investigating methods to ensure product quality by inspecting production and setting standards for product quality, support research by State agricultural experimental stations and meteorological and weather observation stations, and to promote agriculture through the distribution of State funds granted to the State and county agricultural societies. In 1913, the commissioner of agriculture was granted the power to issue subpoenas and hold hearings on violations.

In 1914 (Chapter 245) a separate Department of Foods and Markets was created. Headed by a commissioner chosen by the governor, this department regulated agriculture by investigating food production and marketing costs; establishing standards for grading, handling, storing, and selling of foodstuffs; supervising auction markets; publishing bulletins on daily prices and production and marketing methods; and investigating facilities for transporting produce within the State.

A major reorganization occurred in 1917 (Chapter 802) when a Department of Farms and Markets was established, consolidating the Department of Agriculture and Foods and Markets, the office of the state superintendent of weights and measures (created in 1851), and certain responsibilities of the Department of Health relating to food. The new department was headed by a Council of Farms and Markets, the original members of which were appointed by the governor. Upon expiration of their terms, new council members were elected by the legislature. The department consisted of a Division of Agriculture and a Division of Foods and Markets, each headed by a commissioner appointed by the council. In addition to the powers and functions of the previously mentioned agencies, the department was responsible for ensuring a sufficient supply of milk for urban centers, regulating the conduct of agricultural exchanges and boards of trade, and mediating controversies between producers and distributors.

In 1926 (Chapter 646) the current Department of Agriculture and Markets was established as part of the reorganized State government. It assumed all the functions and powers of the Department of Farms and Markets, which was abolished. A Council of Agriculture and Markets became the executive body with the power to appoint a chief administrative officer known as the commissioner of agriculture and markets. The State Fair Commission, created in 1909, was also transferred to the new department. In 1935 (Chapter 16) an amendment to the agricultural law provided for the appointment of the commissioner by the governor and abolished the Council of Agriculture and Markets.

In 1994 (Chapter 60), budgetary authorization was granted for the creation of a State Council on Agricultural Technology Development and Innovation within the department. The council was charged with assisting the department in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of new technologies in agriculture and their practical and commercial uses. Legislation enacted in 2000 (Chapter 269) provided formal legislative authorization for an existing budgetary program through which the department provided matching grants to government, business, and educational institutions undertaking projects involving new product development; alternative production, processing, distribution, and marketing technologies; introduction of high technologies; or organizational methods that promoted development of the food and agriculture industry in the state.

In 2001, the Department of Agriculture and Markets began a cooperative effort with the State Education Department to create a farm-to-school program that would benefit both agencies through the sale of locally grown produce to schools in the state. Once in place, the program allowed schools to announce their intent to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers through a competitive bidding process, thereby creating a strong link between local farms and public schools, generating new markets for locally grown produce, and enhancing student nutrition.