Illinois. Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture was originally created in 1871 to promote agriculture, horticulture, and related manufactures and domestic arts. Business was conducted by a State Board of Agriculture made up of representatives from each of the state's U.S. congressional districts (L. 1871, pp. 113-114). The present Department of Agriculture was created by the Civil Administrative Code of 1917 and directed to carry out the responsibilities of the previous department as well as those of the Livestock Commission, the State Veterinarian, the Stallion Registration Board, the State INspector of Apiaries, the State Food Commission, and the State Entomologist.

Included are the annual collection and publication of agricultural statistics, the organization and management of an annual state fair, the custody of the state fairgrounds, and the preservation, distribution, introduction, and restoration of fish and game. In 1925 the game and fish division was transferred to the newly created Department of Conservation.

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