Official Site of The State of New Jersey
State Board of Agriculture
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) is the State agency responsible for supporting, promoting, and regulating New Jersey’s diverse and vibrant agricultural industry. Established to strengthen and protect farming in the Garden State, the Department is governed by the State Board of Agriculture, an eight-member body of farmers elected by their peers and appointed by the Governor.
Created by statute in 1887, the State Board of Agriculture provides leadership, policy direction, and oversight for the Department. Working in partnership with Secretary Ed Wengryn, the Board helps guide programs that impact farmers, consumers, educators, communities, agribusinesses, and students across New Jersey.
The Board’s responsibilities include setting agricultural policy, promoting and protecting New Jersey’s agricultural resources, overseeing school nutrition programs, and supporting farmland preservation and management for agricultural use. The Board also plays an important role in advancing organic farming, including certification programs and best practices that encourage sustainable agriculture statewide.
Members of the State Board of Agriculture are elected by delegates from the agriculture community to the legislatively established, annual State Agricultural Convention in February then recommended to the Governor for appointment to the Board with the approval of the State Senate. Farmer-members of the State Fish and Game Council are also selected at the convention.