New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture
| New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $119,258 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $8,660,405 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 5 years |
| Authority: | New Hampshire Statutes, Title XL, Chapter 425, Section 425:1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
| Shawn Jasper | |
| Other New Hampshire Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Director of Fish & Game • Public Utilities Commission | |
The New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture is a state executive position in the New Hampshire state government. The commissioner serves a five-year term, and oversees the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food which is responsible for promoting and protecting agriculture, commerce, consumers and the environment.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Shawn Jasper.[2] New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) recommended Jasper to serve in the position on October 12, 2017. He was confirmed by the New Hampshire Executive Council by a 3-2 vote on November 22, 2017. He succeeded former Commissioner Lorraine Merrill, whose last day in office was December 8, 2017.[3][4][5]
Authority
Per Title XL, Chapter 425, Section 425:1 of the New Hampshire Statutes:[6]
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There is hereby established a department of agriculture, markets, and food, an agency of the state under the executive direction of a commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food. |
Qualifications
Per Title XL, Chapter 425, Section 425:3 of the New Hampshire Statutes, "The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food shall be qualified by reasons of professional competence, education, and experience."[7]
Appointments
Per Title XL, Chapter 425, Section 425:3 of the New Hampshire Statutes, the governor, with consent of the council and recommendations of the agricultural advisory board, appoints the commissioner to a five-year term.[7]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The commissioner oversees the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and is responsible for promoting and protecting agriculture, commerce, consumers and the environment.[8]
Divisions
As of January 31, 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food consists of six divisions and two committees:[9]
- Division of Agricultural Development
- Division of Animal Industry
- Division of Pesticide Control
- Division of Plant Industry
- Division of Regulatory Services
- Division of Weights and Measures
- NH Agriculture in the Classroom
- State Conservation Committee
State budget
- See also: New Hampshire state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Agriculture in Fiscal Year 2025 was $8,660,405.[10]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $119,258, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $112,361, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $110,196, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $100,171, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner's salary remained at $93,812, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the New Hampshire 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.
Contact information
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
Mailing address
PO Box 2042
Concord NH 03302 -2042
Physical address:
State House Annex
25 Capitol Street, Second Floor, Room 220
Concord NH 03301
Telephone: (603) 271-3551
Email: lorraine.merrill@agr.nh.gov
See also
| New Hampshire | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ Concord Monitor, "Sununu nominates Jasper for N.H. agriculture commissioner," October 13, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire Union Leader, "Jasper confirmed as agriculture commissioner with help from Dems," November 22, 2017
- ↑ Seacoastonline.com, "Lorraine Merrill retires from state’s top agriculture post," December 3, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire Statutes, " 425:1 Establishment," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 New Hampshire Statutes, "425:3 Commissioner; Compensation," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Agriculture Department, "Divisions and Committees," accessed January 31, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Legislature, "HB 1-A Final Version," 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 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 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
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