North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of North Dakota
, the Agriculture Commissioner, formerly known as the Commissioner of Agriculture, is an elected official who heads the North Dakota Department of Agriculture
. The present commissioner is Doug Goehring
.
The office is a high-profile position, as agriculture is key to the state economy. The Commissioner of Agriculture is also a member of the North Dakota Industrial Commission, a three-member panel also including the Governor
and Attorney General
. The Industrial Commission oversees North Dakota's state-owned enterprises.
and was collectively called the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and Labor until 1966 when the two agencies split. The Agriculture Commissioner's term was then extended from two years to four, and was placed on a party affiliated ballot, while the Commissioner of Labor was placed on a no party ballot. The title of the office was changed in 1996 from Commissioner of Agriculture to Agriculture Commissioner. In its fairly short existence, the office has become North Dakota's only statewide office to be held longer by the state's Democratic party than the Republican Party
; three of the five commissioners were Democrats.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, the Agriculture Commissioner, formerly known as the Commissioner of Agriculture, is an elected official who heads the North Dakota Department of Agriculture
North Dakota Department of Agriculture
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is a part of the government of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The department fosters a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture and the rural community through leadership, advocacy, education, regulation and other...
. The present commissioner is Doug Goehring
Doug Goehring
Doug Goehring is the current North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner. A Republican, he was appointed to the office by Governor John Hoeven on April 6, 2009 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic-NPL incumbent Roger Johnson to become president of the National Farmers...
.
The office is a high-profile position, as agriculture is key to the state economy. The Commissioner of Agriculture is also a member of the North Dakota Industrial Commission, a three-member panel also including the Governor
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
and Attorney General
North Dakota Attorney General
The North Dakota Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the North Dakota state government. The current Attorney General is Wayne Stenehjem...
. The Industrial Commission oversees North Dakota's state-owned enterprises.
History
Originally, the Department of Agriculture was combined with the North Dakota Department of LaborNorth Dakota Department of Labor
The North Dakota Department of Labor is a part of the government of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The department is responsible for enforcing North Dakota labor and human rights laws and for educating the public about these laws...
and was collectively called the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and Labor until 1966 when the two agencies split. The Agriculture Commissioner's term was then extended from two years to four, and was placed on a party affiliated ballot, while the Commissioner of Labor was placed on a no party ballot. The title of the office was changed in 1996 from Commissioner of Agriculture to Agriculture Commissioner. In its fairly short existence, the office has become North Dakota's only statewide office to be held longer by the state's Democratic party than the Republican Party
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
; three of the five commissioners were Democrats.
See also
- List of Agriculture Commissioners of North Dakota
- North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and LaborNorth Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and LaborThe North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor was an elected official who headed the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and Labor. The office was established with the state's constitution in 1889, and was split into two separate offices—the North Dakota Commissioner of Labor and the...