The Commissioner of Agriculture shall be the administrative head of the Department of Agriculture. The commissioner shall encourage and promote the development of agriculture within the state and collect and publish information and statistics in regard to the agricultural and animal industries and interests of the state and submit the same to the Governor in an annual report. The commissioner shall, annually, visit different sections of the state and investigate the methods and wants of practical husbandry, the adaptation of agricultural products to soil, climate and markets, and, as far as practicable, visit agricultural fairs within the state, encourage the establishment of farmers' clubs, agricultural libraries and reading rooms and disseminate agricultural information by lectures or otherwise. In cooperation with The University of Connecticut, the commissioner may prepare and publish bulletins containing information concerning the cost of production of farm products. The commissioner is authorized to hold an annual state exhibit at the Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield, Massachusetts. The commissioner is authorized to enter into an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture for cooperative work in the collection and publication of agricultural statistics. The commissioner shall have the authority to charge such fees as the commissioner may deem reasonable for publications of information by any of the component agencies of the Department of Agriculture. The commissioner shall review any proposed capital project that would convert twenty-five or more acres of prime farmland or one acre or more of shellfish grounds to a nonagricultural use and if such project promotes agriculture or the goal of agricultural land preservation or if there is no reasonable alternative site for the project the commissioner shall file a statement with the Bond Commission so indicating. The commissioner shall file a statement with the Bond Commission for any proposed capital project that would convert or impair any shellfish grounds and shall include in such statement any comments the commissioner deems appropriate for the protection of such grounds. The commissioner shall administer those provisions of sections 12-107a, 12-107b, 12-107c and 12-107e that address the assessment of farmland and open space. The commissioner may request the Attorney General to bring an action in the Superior Court for injunctive relief requiring compliance with any statute, regulation, order or permit administered, adopted or issued by the commissioner.

(1949 Rev., S. 3054; 1953, S. 1696d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1967, P.A. 508, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 23; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 393; P.A. 77-614, S. 312, 610; P.A. 83-102, S. 2; P.A. 87-504, S. 1, 5; P.A. 89-226, S. 1; P.A. 94-201, S. 4, 7; P.A. 95-156, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e), (f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 120.)

History: 1959 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture with commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources; 1967 act deleted $2,000 limit on expenses of exhibit at Eastern States Exposition; 1969 act allowed commissioner to charge reasonable fees for publications by component agencies of department; 1971 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture and added provisions placing board of agriculture and Connecticut marketing authority under supervision of commissioner and department of agriculture; P.A. 77-614 deleted provisions which had made commissioner responsible for carrying out board of agriculture's policies and which had placed board and marketing authority within jurisdiction of agriculture commissioner and department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-102 required the commissioner to review certain capital projects before bonding authorization for their impact on agriculture and agricultural land preservation; P.A. 87-504 authorized the commissioner to request the attorney general to seek an injunction for compliance with agricultural statutes, regulations, orders or permits; P.A. 89-226 added the provisions authorizing the commissioner to designate an agent; P.A. 94-201 directed the commissioner to administer certain provisions of Secs. 12-107a to 12-107c, inclusive, and 12-107e, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-156 added provisions re review of capital projects which will affect shellfish grounds; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner and Department of Agriculture with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 deleted provisions authorizing commissioner to designate as agent any deputy commissioner to act in commissioner's absence and any deputy commissioner or employee for purpose of administering or enforcing any statute, regulation or order, and made technical changes.

See Sec. 19a-341 re inspection and approval of agricultural or farming operations to determine that operation follows generally accepted agricultural practices.