Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
| North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $146,421 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $182,244,062 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
Steve Troxler | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 7, 2028 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other North Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture is an elected state executive position in the North Carolina state government. The commissioner is the head of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is a member of the Council of State.[1] The commissioner's primary goal is protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the ability of agriculture to produce an adequate supply of food and fiber and to enforcing regulations to that effect.[1]
The commissioner is elected by a statewide vote during presidential election years and serves for a four-year term.
Current officeholder
The current North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture is Steve Troxler (R). Troxler assumed office in 2005.
Authority
The commissioner of agriculture's establishment and term of office are derived from Article III, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution.
Article III, Section 7:
| A Secretary of State, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an Attorney General, a Commissioner of Agriculture, a Commissioner of Labor, and a Commissioner of Insurance shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State in 1972 and every four years thereafter, at the same time and places as members of the General Assembly are elected. Their term of office shall be four years and shall commence on the first day of January next after their election and continue until their successors are elected and qualified.[2] |
Qualifications
Article VI, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office.[2] |
- Qualified North Carolina voter
- At least 21 years of age
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article III, Section 7.
If the office of the commissioner of agriculture is vacant, the governor appoints another to serve until a successor is elected. The vacancy is filled at the next regular election for the office.[3]
Elections
North Carolina elect the agriculture commissioner in presidential election years. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, which begins the first day of January following the election.[2]
2024
General election candidates
- Steve Troxler (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Sarah Taber (Democratic Party)
- Sean Haugh (Libertarian Party)
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Democratic primary candidates
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Republican primary candidates
- Steve Troxler (Incumbent) ✔
- Colby Hammonds
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Minor Party primary candidates
Libertarian Party
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
2020
General election candidates
- Steve Troxler (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Jenna Wadsworth (Democratic Party)
Democratic primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey Republican primary candidates
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
- Steve Troxler (Incumbent) ✔
Past elections
Duties
The commissioner of agriculture is the head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is a member of the Council of State. The commissioner's primary goal is protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the ability of agriculture to produce an adequate supply of food and fiber and to enforcing regulations to that effect.[1] Areas regulated and overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services include, but is not limited to: animal health, weights and measures, state farm operations, purity testing of foods, drugs, and cosmetics, soil and water conservation, and agricultural economic analysis. The commissioner also serves as the chair and ex officio member of the 11-person Board of Agriculture.[1]
Divisions
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has 24 total divisions[4]
Agricultural Finance
- The Agricultural Finance Authority provides credit by originating, financing, and servicing loans for those operating family-sized units for agricultural production and export.
| Contact Agricultural Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Stephanie Oxley, Executive Director Address: 1101 Spring Forest Rd., Suite 150, Raleigh NC, 27615-5843 | |
Agricultural Statistics
- The mission of the Agricultural Statistics Division is "to provide timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to North Carolina and U.S. agriculture."
| Contact Agricultural Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Dee Webb, State Statistician Mailing Address: P. O. Box 27767 Raleigh, NC 27611 | |
Agronomic Services
- The mission of the Agronomic Services Division is "[t]o provide all North Carolina residents with diagnostic and advisory services that increase agricultural productivity, promote responsible land management and safeguard environmental quality."
| Contact Agronomic Services | |
|---|---|
| Colleen M. Hudak-Wise, Director Mailing Address: 1040 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1040 | |
Audit Services
- The mission of the Audit Services Division is "[t]o enhance and protect organizational value by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice and insight."
| Contact Audit Services | |
|---|---|
| Derek Allred, Director Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 | |
Budget and Finance
- The Budget and Finance Division is in charge of all business affairs of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
| Contact Budget and Finance | |
|---|---|
| Catherine Stogner, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001 | |
Emergency Programs
- The mission of the Emergency Programs Division is "to support the agriculture community and protect consumers by coordinating the Department's efforts to plan for, respond to and recover from emergency events and public health concerns that may impact agriculture in NC."
| Contact Emergency Programs | |
|---|---|
| John Howard, Director
Mailing Address: 1035 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699 | |
Environmental Programs
- The Environmental Programs Division advises the commissioner, chief deputy commissioner, and assistant commissioner of agriculture on those environmental related issues that may affect agribusiness and agriculture.
| Contact Environmental Programs | |
|---|---|
| Joe Hudyncia, Environmental Program Specialist Mailing Address: 1005 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 | |
Farmland Preservation
- The Farmland Preservation Division oversees the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, which supports the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, funds enterprise programs to promote sustainable family farms, and funds conservation agreements on farm, forest, and horticultural lands.
| Contact Farmland Preservation | |
|---|---|
| Dewitt Hardee, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699 | |
Food and Drug Protection
- The Food and Drug Protection Division conducts investigations and implements the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which provides the framework used to administer programs designed to assure consumers in North Carolina that foods, devices, drugs, and cosmetics are safe.
| Contact Food and Drug Protection | |
|---|---|
| Anita MacMullan, Director Mailing Address: 1070 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699 | |
Food Distribution
- The Food Distribution Division distributes U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities to eligible Recipient Agencies through six food programs.
| Contact Food Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Gary Gay, Director Mailing Address: P. O. Box 659, Butner, NC 27509 | |
Human Resources
- The Human Resources Division provides support to the department's divisions in areas of personnel administration.
| Contact Human Resources | |
|---|---|
| Sylvia Crumpler, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh , NC 27699-1001 | |
Marketing
- The mission of the Marketing Division is "to promote North Carolina's agricultural bounty to consumers across the state, country, and around the world."
| Contact Marketing | |
|---|---|
| Joe Sanderson, Director Mailing Address: 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1020 | |
Meat and Poultry Inspection
- The Meat and Poultry Inspection Division enforces state meat and poultry products inspection laws, ensures that meat and poultry plants meet state inspection guidelines, and undertakes enforcement actions as appropriate.
| Contact Meat and Poultry Inspection | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Karen Beck, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 | |
N.C. Forest Service
- The NC Forest Service is mandated by statute "to protect, manage and develop the forest resources of the state."
| Contact State Fair | |
|---|---|
| David Lane, State Forester Mailing Address: 1616 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1600 | |
N.C. State Fair
- The N.C. State Fair Division operates the North Carolina State Fair, which takes place annually in October. During the rest of the year, fair buildings and grounds are rented out for other events.
| Contact the N.C. State Fair | |
|---|---|
| Kent Yelverton, Manager Mailing Address: 1010 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1010 | |
Plant Industry
- The mission of the Plant Industry Division is "to ensure seed and fertilizer and other soil additives offered for sale in North Carolina meet prescribed standards and are truthfully labeled, to protect the state's agriculture and natural environment from introduced plant pests, including insects, diseases, and noxious weeds, and to enhance and protect our state's endangered and threatened plants."
| Contact Plant Industry | |
|---|---|
| Phil Wilson, Director Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1060 | |
Property and Construction
- The Property and Construction Division oversees the department's capital improvements, real property, and engineering consulting program.
| Contact Property and Construction | |
|---|---|
| Andrew A. Meier, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 | |
Public Affairs
- The Public Affairs Division is the department's central point of contact for the news media and public outreach. The division is responsible for news releases, interviews, fact sheets, web pages, and other communication materials.
| Contact Public Affairs | |
|---|---|
| Andrea Ashby, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001 | |
Research Stations
- The mission of the Research Stations Division is "To manage crop and livestock facilities that serve as a platform for agriculture research to make farming more efficient, productive and profitable, while maintaining a sound environment and providing consumers with safe and affordable products."
| Contact Research Stations | |
|---|---|
| Teresa Lambert, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 | |
Small and Minority Farms
- The Small and Minority Farm Program "provides services to small, limited-resource and minority farmers who are traditionally under served. These services are provided through outreach and education to assist this audience in making informed decisions and providing advocacy for those who do not have a voice."
| Contact Small Farms | |
|---|---|
| Archie Hart, Director Mailing Address: 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001 | |
Soil & Water Conservation
- The mission of the Division of Soil & Water Conservation is "[t]o foster voluntary, incentive-driven management of soil, water and related natural resources for the benefit of the environment, economy and all citizens."
| Contact Soil & Water Conservation | |
|---|---|
| Vernon Cox, Director Mailing Address: 1614 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1614 | |
Standards
- The Standards Division "is a regulatory agency responsible for enforcing the North Carolina Weights and Measures Act (G.S. 81A), the Gasoline and Oil Inspection Law (G.S. 119), and the LP-Gas Inspection Law (G.S. 119 Article 5)."
| Contact Standards | |
|---|---|
| Stephen Benjamin, Director Mailing Address: 1050 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1050 | |
Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division
- The Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division regulates pest control practices, pesticide usage, and bedding sanitation products manufactured and sold in the state.
| Contact Structural Pest Control and Pesticides | |
|---|---|
| James W. Burnette, Jr., Director Mailing Address: 1090 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1090 | |
Veterinary Division
- The Veterinary Division administers regulatory animal health programs and disease testing, surveils and eradicates animal diseases, and oversees the humane treatment of dogs and cats in animal shelters, kennels, and pet shops by enforcing the N.C. Animal Welfare Act.
| Contact Veterinary | |
|---|---|
| Dr. R. Douglas Meckes, State Veterinarian Mailing Address: 1030 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1030 | |
State budget
- See also: North Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Fiscal Year 2025 was $182,244,062.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article III, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution defines the method by which the agriculture commissioner's compensation is set:
| The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.[2] |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $146,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $146,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $136,699, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $133,365, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $127,561, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $125,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $124,676, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $121,807, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Physical Address:
2 West Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Mailing Address:
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, "The Role of the Commissioner of Agriculture," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 North Carolina State Legislature, "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 106-10 (2019)," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services, "Home," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "House Bill 259," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
| ||||||||||||||
