New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 2 - AGRICULTURE › Chapter 1 - ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter 2 - ORGANIZATION › Section 2:1-2.3 - Functions of departmental units

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Functions of the various units within the State Department of Agriculture are as follows:
1. The State Board of Agriculture is the head of the Department and consists of eight farmers of the State engaged in the production of farm crops or livestock. The State Board of Agriculture, with the approval of the Governor, appoints the Secretary of Agriculture who serves as the principal executive officer of the Department and secretary to the Board. The Board has the authority to establish rules and regulations for its own proceedings and for the government, control and program performance of the Department.
2. The Office of the Secretary is responsible for, including but not limited to, executive management, policy development, personnel, budget, information technology, facilities management, legislative liaison, public information programs, and legal services for the Department and the State Board of Agriculture.
3. The Office of Operations provides personnel, budget, accounting, training, information technology, facilities management and administrative support services to the Divisions.
4.The Division of Marketing and Development: operates programs which foster a stable and competitive dairy industry; conducts quality assurance programs for agricultural inputs; regulates credit buyers of perishable agricultural products; performs agricultural product grading and inspection; and promotes food safety by conducting third-party audits on fresh produce. The Division of Marketing and Development is accredited by USDAs National Organic Program to certify growers and handlers wishing to sell agricultural products under the organic designation and administers an organic registration program, which monitors all sectors of the organic industry in New Jersey. The Division of Marketing and Development also provides market development services; market news; support for agricultural cooperatives, fairs, and shows; equine programs; and product promotions.
5. The Division of Plant Industry is responsible for programs to detect, prevent, control and eradicate pests and diseases of plants, trees and bees; conducts beneficial insect development and production; and provides seed certification and control.
6. The Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources provides programs and services to support farming, agricultural and rural development, soil and water conservation, agricultural statistics, agricultural economic viability, aquaculture/fish/seafood development, and agricultural education and youth agricultural leadership.
7. Functions of units assigned to the State Department of Agriculture are as follows:
i. The State Agriculture Development Committee is independent of, but allocated within, the Department of Agriculture. It administers the State Farmland Preservation Program, which permanently protects farmland by funding easement purchases, largely in cooperation with county and local governments and nonprofit organizations. The Committee also administers a soil and water cost sharing program for owners of preserved farms, staffs the Transfer of Development Rights Bank and operates the Farm Link Program which matches farm sellers with potential buyers; and administers the Right-to-Farm program.
8. The Division of Food and Nutrition distributes Federal donated food to schools, institutions and qualified individuals. State and Federal reimbursements are paid to school districts for part of the cost of school lunches and Federal funds are paid to offset part of the cost of school breakfasts.