Virginia. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

On March 29, 1877, the General Assembly passed an act creating the Department of Agriculture, Mining, and Manufacturing to compile a geological handbook, analyze soils and fertilizers, dispense information to agriculturists in the state, and distribute seeds provided by the federal government. The Board of Agriculture was established by the General Assembly on March 5, 1888, to manage the department. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Immigration by an act passed on February 25, 1908, and the agency was given the mission of promoting the immigration of farmers into the state. On March 27, 1914, the General Assembly made the commissioner of the department a member of the Convict Lime Grinding Board. This board, which supervised the employment of state penitentiary convicts at state lime grinding plants, was abolished by the state government reorganization act passed by the General Assembl

y on April 18, 1927, and its duties were transferred to the Board of Agriculture and Immigration.

A major shift in focus occurred when, in a statewide referendum held on November 1, 1966, the voters approved a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly on March 11 that changed the name of the department to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The governor issued a proclamation of the name change on November 30, 1966, and on March 4, 1971, the General Assembly passed an act codifying the change. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by an act passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 1978.

The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the department, consists of ten members, one from each congressional district. Six of the members must be farmers. The members are appointed by the governor for four-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. The president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is an ex-officio member of the board. The board is responsible for policy formulation on matters of agricultural and consumer concern.

The executive arm of the board, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor and approved by the General Assembly. He is responsible for the management of all service activities carried out by the department. The department works closely with state agricultural commissions and with the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services in fulfilling its statutory functions. The commissioner serves as an ex-officio member of the Consolidated Laboratory Board.

The activities of the department are directing at promoting and regulating the agriculture industry of the commonwealth and the welfare of the consumers. The agency is under the Secretary of Economic Development, with the central office in Richmond. The divisions reflect the scope of the department: Agriculture Statistics Service, Animal Health, Consumer Affairs, Dairy and Foods, Marketing (domestic and international), Product and Industry Regulation (including the Bureau of Weights and Measures), Strategic Planning, and Administration. Most of the divisions have inspection services. The boards indicate the major products: Farmers' Market, Pork Industry, Winegrowers Advisory, Peanut, Tobacco (bright flue cured and dark fired), Egg, Marine Products, Apple, Potato (seed and sweet) and Cattle Industry. The boards are part of the department, and most of the

offices are located in the area of primary production. Many of the divisions maintain offices in major cities and production areas of the state. Among the publications of the deparment are guides to sources of Virginia products (herbs, vegetable, berry, retail farmers' markets, honey, apple, pumpkin, peach, and Christmas tree), and the "Bulletin."

From the description of Agency history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145407350

On March 29, 1877, the General Assembly passed an act creating the Department of Agriculture, Mining, and Manufacturing to compile a geological handbook, analyze soils and fertilizers, dispense information to agriculturists in the state, and distribute seeds provided by the federal government. The Board of Agriculture was established by the General Assembly on March 5, 1888, to manage the department. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Immigration by an act passed on February 25, 1908, and the agency was given the additional mission of promoting the immigration of farmers into the state. On March 27, 1914, the General Assembly made the commissioner of the department a member of the Convict Lime Grinding Board. This board, which supervised the employment of state penitentiary convicts at state lime grinding plants, was abolished by the state government reorganization act passed by the General Assembly on April 18, 1927, and its duties were transferred to the Board of Agriculture and Immigration.

A major shift in focus occurred when, in a statewide referendum held on November 1, 1966, the voters approved a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the General Assembly on March 11 that changed the name of the department to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. The governor issued a proclamation of the name change on November 30, 1966, and on March 4, 1971, the General Assembly passed an act codifying the change. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by an act passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 1978.

The Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the department, consists of eleven members, one from each congressional district. Seven of the members must be farmers. The members are appointed by the governor for four-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. The presidents of Virginia State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are ex-officio members of the board. The board is responsible for policy formulation on matters of agricultural and consumer concern.

The Virginia Wine Board was created in 1984 as part of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to promote the interests of vinyards and wineries in the commonwealth through research, education and marketing.

From the guide to the Records of the Wine Study Work Group of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2002-2004, (The Library of Virginia)