# Minister for Agriculture (New South Wales)

The New South Wales Minister for Agriculture is responsible for the administration and development of agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, state forests, biosecurity, and crown lands in New South Wales, Australia.
The current minister, who also serves as the Minister for Western New South Wales, is Tara Moriarty, since 5 April 2023. The minister administers the portfolio through the Regional NSW cluster, including the Department of Regional NSW and a range of other government agencies such as the Department of Primary Industries.
Ultimately the minister is responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

## List of ministers
### Agriculture

The following individuals have served as Minister for Agriculture, or any precedent titles:
| Title | Minister | Party | Term start | Term end | Time in office |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | Sydney Smith | Free Trade | 28 February 1890 | 22 October 1891 | 1 year, 236 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | Thomas Slattery | Protectionist | 23 October 1891 | 2 August 1894 | 2 years, 283 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | Sydney Smith | Free Trade | 3 August 1894 | 15 August 1898 | 4 years, 12 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | Joseph Cook | Free Trade | 27 August 1898 | 13 September 1899 | 1 year, 17 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | John Fegan | Protectionist | 15 September 1899 | 8 April 1901 | 1 year, 205 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | John Kidd | Progressive | 10 April 1901 | 29 August 1904 | 3 years, 141 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | Samuel Moore | Liberal Reform | 29 August 1904 | 1 October 1907 | 3 years, 33 days |
| Secretary for Mines and Agriculture | John Perry | Liberal Reform | 2 October 1907 | 21 January 1908 | 3 years, 18 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | John Perry | Liberal Reform | 22 January 1908 | 20 October 1910 | 3 years, 18 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Donald Macdonell | Labor | 21 October 1910 | 10 September 1911 | 324 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | John Treflé | Labor | 11 September 1911 | 29 January 1914 | 2 years, 140 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | William Ashford | Labor | 29 January 1914 | 23 February 1915 | 1 year, 25 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | George Black | Labor | 23 February 1915 | 15 March 1915 | 20 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | William Ashford | Labor | 15 March 1915 | 1 June 1915 | 78 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | William Grahame | Labor | 1 June 1915 | 15 November 1916 | 4 years, 227 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | William Grahame | Nationalist | 15 November 1916 | 14 January 1920 | 4 years, 227 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | William Ashford | Nationalist | 9 February 1920 | 12 April 1920 | 63 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Bill Dunn | Labor | 12 April 1920 | 20 December 1921 | 1 year, 252 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Frank Chaffey | Nationalist | 20 December 1921 | 20 December 1921 | 7 hours |
| Minister for Agriculture | Bill Dunn | Labor | 20 December 1921 | 13 April 1922 | 114 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Richard Ball | Nationalist | 13 April 1922 | 28 June 1922 | 76 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Frank Chaffey | Nationalist | 28 June 1922 | 17 June 1925 | 2 years, 354 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Bill Dunn | Labor | 17 June 1925 | 26 May 1927 | 1 year, 343 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Paddy Stokes | Labor | 27 May 1927 | 18 October 1927 | 144 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Harold Thorby | Country | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor | 4 November 1930 | 15 October 1931 | 1 year, 191 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor (NSW) | 15 October 1931 | 13 May 1932 | 1 year, 191 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests | Hugh Main | Country | 16 May 1932 | 1 April 1938 | 5 years, 320 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests | Roy Vincent | Country | 2 April 1938 | 13 April 1938 | 11 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Albert Reid | Country | 13 April 1938 | 16 May 1941 | 3 years, 33 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor | 16 May 1941 | 8 June 1944 | 3 years, 23 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Eddie Graham | Labor | 8 June 1944 | 6 February 1947 | 2 years, 243 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | James McGirr | Labor | 6 February 1947 | 13 February 1947 | 7 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Eddie Graham | Labor | 13 February 1947 | 23 February 1953 | 6 years, 17 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Food Production | Eddie Graham | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 13 November 1957 | 6 years, 17 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Food Production | Roger Nott | Labor | 14 November 1957 | 1 April 1959 | 3 years, 109 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Roger Nott | Labor | 1 April 1959 | 3 March 1961 | 3 years, 109 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Jack Renshaw | Labor | 3 March 1961 | 14 March 1962 | 1 year, 11 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | George Enticknap | Labor | 14 March 1962 | 13 May 1965 | 3 years, 60 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Bill Chaffey | Country | 13 May 1965 | 5 March 1968 | 2 years, 297 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Geoff Crawford | Country | 5 March 1968 | 17 December 1975 | 7 years, 287 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources | Bruce Cowan | Country | 17 December 1975 | 14 May 1976 | 149 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Don Day | Labor | 14 May 1976 | 19 October 1978 | 3 years, 291 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Don Day | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 3 years, 291 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Jack Hallam | Labor | 29 February 1980 | 2 October 1981 | 8 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Jack Hallam | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 4 July 1986 | 8 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Jack Hallam | Labor | 4 July 1986 | 21 March 1988 | 8 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs | Ian Armstrong | National | 25 March 1988 | 26 May 1993 | 5 years, 66 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Ian Causley | National | 26 May 1993 | 4 April 1995 | 1 year, 313 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Richard Amery | Labor | 4 April 1995 | 2 April 2003 | 7 years, 363 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Ian Macdonald | Labor | 2 April 2003 | 3 May 2004 | 6 years, 229 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Ian Macdonald | Labor | 3 May 2004 | 17 November 2009 | 6 years, 229 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Tony Kelly | Labor | 17 November 2009 | 8 December 2009 | 21 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Steve Whan | Labor | 8 December 2009 | 28 March 2011 | 1 year, 110 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Katrina Hodgkinson | National | 3 April 2011 | 2 April 2015 | 3 years, 364 days |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Niall Blair | National | 2 April 2015 | 23 March 2019 | 3 years, 355 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales | Adam Marshall | National | 2 April 2019 (2019-04-02) | 21 December 2021 (2021-12-21) | 2 years, 263 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Dugald Saunders | National | 21 December 2021 (2021-12-21) | 28 March 2023 (2023-03-28) | 1 year, 97 days |
| Minister for Roads | John Graham | Labor | 28 March 2023 | 5 April 2023 | 8 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Tara Moriarty | Labor | 5 April 2023 | incumbent | 1 year, 187 days |

## Former ministerial titles
### Fisheries

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries was created in 1981 in the fourth Wran ministry. The portfolio had responsibility for the administration and management of oyster farms and fisheries in New South Wales, Australia. Prior to 1981 fisheries had been part of the responsibilities of the Minister for Conservation. The portfolio was abolished in 2004 in the fourth Carr ministry with the portfolio renamed Primary Industries.
| Title | Minister | Party | Ministry | Term start | Term end | Time in office |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Jack Hallam | Labor | Wran (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) | 2 October 1981 | 4 July 1986 | 4 years, 275 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Ian Causley | National | Fahey (3) | 26 May 1993 | 4 April 1995 | 1 year, 313 days |
| Minister for Fisheries | Bob Martin | Labor | Carr (1) (2) | 4 April 1995 | 8 April 1999 | 4 years, 4 days |
| Minister for Fisheries | Eddie Obeid | Labor | Carr (3) | 8 April 1999 | 2 April 2003 | 3 years, 359 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Ian Macdonald | Labor | Carr (4) | 2 April 2003 | 3 May 2004 | 1 year, 31 days |

### Forests

| Title | Minister | Party | Term start | Term end | Time in office |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | William Ashford | Nationalist | 15 November 1916 | 12 April 1920 | 3 years, 149 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Peter Loughlin | Labor | 12 April 1920 | 20 December 1921 | 1 year, 252 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Walter Wearne | Nationalist | 20 December 1921 | 20 December 1921 | 7 hours |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Peter Loughlin | Labor | 20 December 1921 | 13 April 1922 | 114 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Walter Wearne | Nationalist | 13 April 1922 | 17 June 1925 | 3 years, 65 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Peter Loughlin | Labor | 17 June 1925 | 19 November 1926 | 1 year, 155 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Jack Lang | Labor | 25 November 1926 | 26 May 1927 | 182 days |
| Secretary for Lands Minister for Forests | Ted Horsington | Labor | 26 May 1927 | 18 October 1927 | 145 days |
| Minister for Forests | Frank Chaffey | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 15 April 1929 | 1 year, 179 days |
| Minister for Forests | Reginald Weaver | Nationalist | 15 April 1929 | 3 November 1930 | 1 year, 202 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor | 4 November 1930 | 15 October 1931 | 1 year, 191 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor (NSW) | 15 October 1931 | 13 May 1932 | 1 year, 191 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests | Hugh Main | Country | 16 May 1932 | 17 June 1932 | 32 days |
| Minister for Forests | Roy Vincent | Country | 18 June 1932 | 16 May 1941 | 8 years, 332 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Forests | Bill Dunn | Labor | 16 May 1941 | 8 June 1944 | 3 years, 23 days |
| Minister for Lands Minister for Forests | Milton Morris | Liberal | 3 January 1975 | 30 June 1975 | 178 days |
| Minister for Lands Minister for Forests | John Mason | Liberal | 30 June 1975 | 23 January 1976 | 207 days |
| Minister for Lands Minister for Forests | Col Fisher | Country | 23 January 1976 | 14 May 1976 | 112 days |
| Minister for Lands Minister for Forests Minister for Water Resources | Lin Gordon | Labor | 29 February 1980 | 2 October 1981 | 1 year, 216 days |
| Minister for Water Resources Minister for Forests | Paul Whelan | Labor | 1 February 1983 | 5 April 1984 | 1 year, 64 days |
| Minister for Forests | Jack Hallam | Labor | 5 November 1986 | 21 March 1988 | 1 year, 137 days |
| Minister for Lands and Forests | Garry West | National | 24 July 1990 | 6 June 1991 | 317 days |
| Minister for Forestry | Kim Yeadon | Labor | 1 December 1997 | 2 April 2003 | 5 years, 122 days |
| Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural Resources (Forests) | Michael Costa | Labor | 2 April 2003 | 1 July 2004 | 1 year, 90 days |
| Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources | Ian Macdonald | Labor | 4 December 2009 | 4 June 2010 | 182 days |
| Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources | Paul McLeay | Labor | 4 June 2010 | 1 September 2010 | 89 days |
| Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources | Steve Whan | Labor | 6 September 2010 | 28 March 2011 | 203 days |
| Minister for Lands and Forestry | Paul Toole | National | 30 January 2017 | 23 March 2019 | 2 years, 52 days |

### Rural affairs

The Minister for Rural Affairs was a ministry in New South Wales. It was initially established as an addendum to the Agriculture portfolio, adding responsibilities for rural land protection and rural adjustment grants. It was first established in the first Greiner ministry in 1988 and abolished in 1993. It was re-established in the second Carr ministry and abolished in 2011, with the responsibilities absorbed into the Primary Industries portfolio.
| Title | Minister | Party | Term start | Term end | Time in office |
| Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs | Ian Armstrong | National | 25 March 1988 | 26 May 1993 | 5 years, 93 days |
| Minister for Rural Affairs | Harry Woods | Labor | 1 December 1997 | 2 April 2003 | 5 years, 122 days |
| Minister for Rural Affairs | Tony Kelly | Labor | 2 April 2003 | 5 September 2008 | 5 years, 156 days |
| Minister for Rural Affairs | Phil Costa | Labor | 8 September 2008 | 30 January 2009 | 144 days |
| Minister for Rural Affairs | Tony Kelly | Labor | 30 January 2009 | 14 September 2009 | 227 days |
| Minister for Rural Affairs | Steve Whan | Labor | 14 September 2009 | 28 March 2011 | 1 year, 195 days |