Texas Department of Agriculture
Encyclopedia
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is a state agency within the state of Texas
, which is responsible for matters pertaining to agriculture
, rural community affairs, and related matters.
TDA was established by the 13th Texas Legislature in 1907. TDA is headed by the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, one of four heads of state agencies which is elected by statewide ballot (and the only one where the provision for statewide election is mandated by legislative action, not enshrined in the Texas Constitution
) for a four-year term, concurrent with the gubernatorial election (prior to 1978, the term was two-year).
The department is headquartered on the 11th floor of the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building at 1700 North Congress Avenue in Austin
.
The mission statement of the Texas Department of Agriculture is:
Partner with all Texans to make Texas the nation's leader in agriculture, fortify our economy, empower rural communities, promote healthy lifestyles, and cultivate winning strategies for rural, suburban and urban Texas through exceptional service and the common threads of agriculture in our daily lives.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, which is responsible for matters pertaining to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, rural community affairs, and related matters.
TDA was established by the 13th Texas Legislature in 1907. TDA is headed by the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, one of four heads of state agencies which is elected by statewide ballot (and the only one where the provision for statewide election is mandated by legislative action, not enshrined in the Texas Constitution
Texas Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Texas.Texas has had seven constitutions: the constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, the state constitutions of 1845,...
) for a four-year term, concurrent with the gubernatorial election (prior to 1978, the term was two-year).
The department is headquartered on the 11th floor of the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building at 1700 North Congress Avenue in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
The mission statement of the Texas Department of Agriculture is:
Partner with all Texans to make Texas the nation's leader in agriculture, fortify our economy, empower rural communities, promote healthy lifestyles, and cultivate winning strategies for rural, suburban and urban Texas through exceptional service and the common threads of agriculture in our daily lives.
Commissioners of the Department of Agriculture
NOTE: Milner was appointed as Commissioner prior to the first statewide election in 1908.| Commissioner | Beginning Term Year | Ending Term Year |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Teague Milner | 1907 | 1908 |
| Edward Reeves Kone | 1908 | 1914 |
| Fred Davis | 1915 | 1920 |
| George B. Terrell | 1921 | 1930 |
| James E. McDonald | 1931 | 1950 |
| John C. White John C. White John Coyle White was an elected and appointed Democratic official from Texas. He was the longest-serving Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, first elected in 1951 and serving until his resignation in 1977. White was the youngest person elected to statewide office in Texas... |
1951 | 1977 |
| Reagan V. Brown Reagan V. Brown Reagan V. Brown was Texas Commissioner of Agriculture from 1977 - 1982.-Early years:Brown graduated from Texas A&M University in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a farmer and county extension agent.... |
1977 | 1982 |
| Jim Hightower Jim Hightower James Allen "Jim" Hightower is an American syndicated columnist, activist and author.-Life and career:Born in Denison, Texas, Hightower came from a working class background. He worked his way through college as assistant general manager of the Denton Chamber of Commerce and later landed a spot as... |
1983 | 1990 |
| Rick Perry Rick Perry James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full... |
1991 | 1998 |
| Susan Combs Susan Combs Susan Combs is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas, currently serving as the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts.... |
1999 | 2006 |
| Todd Staples Todd Staples Douglas Todd Staples is the current Republican Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Prior to his election in 2006 as Agriculture Commissioner, he had been a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature and formerly served on the city council in Palestine, Texas.Staples was... |
2007 | (present) |
Divisions
The department is divided into the following divisions:- Administrative Services--Provides TDA support functions
- Communications--Provides media information, public information and TDA internal support services
- Financial Services--Provides TDA accounting, budgetary, and purchasing functions
- Food and Nutrition--Administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer and After School Snack Programs in Texas public schools, including technical assistance and training to school district child nutrition professionals to help them stay abreast of state and federal policies, as well as processing of reimbursements to schools participating in the Child Nutrition Programs
- General Counsel--Provides legal assistance to TDA divisions, and its Enforcement section investigates administrative violations of various state and federal laws regarding pesticides, herbicides, and consumer laws
- External Relations--Provides support to the Commissioner and the agency by monitoring and analyzing federal and state legislative and regulatory activities that affect TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Agricultural producers and consumers as well as studying issues that affect ruralRuralRural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
Texas; also responsible for the management of several TDA grants including the Texas Israel Exchange Program, the Urban School Agricultural Grant Program, the Surplus Food Grant Program, Enology/Viticulture Research Grants, the Leon River Restoration Project Grant and the Feral Hog Damage Abatement Program - Marketing and Promotion--Works to increase the sales of both raw and processed Texas agricultural commodities by promoting Texas foodFoodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, fiberFiberFiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
, wineWineWine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, livestockLivestockLivestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, horticultureHorticultureHorticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and forestryForestryForestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
products under the GO TEXANGO TEXANGO TEXAN is a marketing initiative sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, whose purpose is to encourage consumers to seek and purchase Texas-made products....
campaign - Pesticide Programs--TDA is designated as the state’s lead agency in the regulation of pesticidePesticidePesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
use and application. The division is responsible for licensing and training pesticide applicators, overseeing worker protection, registering pesticides for sale in the state and working to minimize unnecessary impacts to agriculture while enhancing protection of endangered and threatened species as mandated by the federal law - Regulatory Programs--Oversees items like seed/egg quality, nursery products, and the accuracy of grocery scales and gasoline pumps; also protects against the movement of harmful pests into Texas
- Rural Economic Development--Assists rural communities and businesses to create and retain jobs through business development and community assistance, and through the GO TEXANGO TEXANGO TEXAN is a marketing initiative sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, whose purpose is to encourage consumers to seek and purchase Texas-made products....
Rural Community Program, the division promotes agricultural diversificationAgricultural diversificationIn the agricultural context, diversification can be regarded as the re-allocation of some of a farm's productive resources, such as land, capital, farm equipment and paid labour, into new activities...
, small town revitalization and rural tourismTourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...