The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is a state governmental agency that is responsible for the promotion and protection of agriculture and agribusiness in the state of New Jersey. The department oversees school meal programs, distributes surplus food from federal programs, oversees soil and water resources, maintains farmland for agricultural uses, assists in development of overseas markets for New Jersey products from its farms and fisheries, and administers agricultural education programs.
Ed Wengryn was named New Jersey secretary of agriculture in March 2024.[1]
Organization
The department is jointly managed by the secretary of agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture. The secretary is responsible for managing and directing the work of the department. In addition, the secretary is the department’s executive officer, serves as secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and is a member of the governor's cabinet. The secretary is appointed by the State Board of Agriculture and is approved by the governor. New Jersey is the only state in the nation where the farmer constituents of the Department of Agriculture set policy and actively manage the department and select its secretary.
The State Board of Agriculture, an eight-member body created by statute in 1887, serves as the policy-making and general head of the department. The board is charged with setting policies which direct the secretary and the department in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. Each member serves a four-year term, with two members replaced annually by new members elected at the State Agricultural Convention and appointed by the governor with the approval of the State Senate. By law, at least four of the members must represent the top four commodity groups in the state based on a two-year average of the gross value of production.
State Board of Agriculture
Secretary of Agriculture
Office of the Secretary
Agricultural and Natural Resources Division
Animal Health Division
Food and Nutrition Division
Marketing and Development Division
Plant Industry Division
Agricultural Education
Also found at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is the Agricultural Education Division, led by Mrs. Nancy Trivette. The division oversees all agricultural education programs in New Jersey, as well as leading the New Jersey FFA Association. There are currently over 3,500 FFA members in the state of New Jersey spanning across 37 chapters.
New Jersey FFA Association Executive Board
The New Jersey Agricultural Education and FFA Executive Board is as follows:
State FFA Advisor: Mrs. Erin Noble
State FFA Specialist: Ms. Jenny Allen
State FFA Executive Assistant: Ms. Debra McCluskey
State FFA President: Niccolo Conte, Allentown FFA
State FFA Vice President: Allison Josielewski, Allentown FFA
State FFA Secretary: Tyler Murnaghan, Cape May FFA
State FFA Treasurer: Abrianna Portillo, Phillipsburg FFA
State FFA Reporter: Nina Weiland, Hunterdon County ESEA FFA
State FFA Sentinel: William Rutherford, Cape May FFA
Teacher Representative: Mr. Dale Cruzan, Allentown FFA
Commodities Councils
The Division works closely with seven commodity councils to help them publicize their products and bring the benefits of grower-sponsored research to consumers. The funds are used by each council for product research and improvement, promotional point-of-purchase materials and special promotional events. These councils are funded by taxes levied on farmers, growers, and producers based on the quantity of goods produced. Grower-funded commodity councils have been established for apples, blueberries, milk, poultry, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and wine.[2] These include:
