California. Dept. of Agriculture.

Agency History

The California Department of Agriculture was created in 1919 ( Stats. 1919, ch. 325) by the placing of the operation of a number of agriculturally oriented boards, bureaus, and commissions under the jurisdiction of a Director of Agriculture.

The Director succeeded to the powers and duties of the State Commissioner of Horticulture, the State Board of Horticultural Examiners, the State Dairy Bureau, the State Veterinarian, the Stallion Registration Board, the State Board of Viticultural Commissioners, the Board of Citrus Fruit Shipments, and the Cattle Protection Board.

The duties of the Department were originally divided between two divisions: Plant Industry and Animal Industry. On July 1, 1920, the Division of Chemistry was organized. In 1921, the Legislature changed its name to the Division of Agricultural Chemistry and created the Division of Markets and the Division of Weights and Measures ( Stats. 1921, ch. 606). The major reorganization of October 1, 1939, consolidated departmental activities into four divisions: Administration, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Economics.

In 1969, the Department was placed within the Agriculture and Services Agency ( Stats. 1969, ch. 138), and in 1972 its name became the Department of Food and Agriculture ( Stats. 1972, ch. 225).

The majority of the surviving records of the Department date from the period after the 1939 reorganization.

From the guide to the Dept. of Agriculture Records, (California State Archives)