The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), formerly the Michigan Department of Agriculture is a department of the

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

state government created in 1921 to enforce laws regarding agriculture production and distribution. Agriculture in the State of Michigan is now a $104.7 billion industry. A five-member commission heads the Department with a Director of Agriculture & Rural Development to administer the day-to-day activities. Under Governor

Rick Snyder Richard Dale Snyder (born August 19, 1958) is an American business executive, venture capitalist, attorney, accountant, and politician who served as the 48th governor of Michigan from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Snyder previ ...

, MDARD is now part of the "Quality of Life" group within state government, along with the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality. The mission of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development is, "To protect, promote and preserve the food, agricultural, environmental and economic interests of the people of Michigan." The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has six divisions, which work to cultivate and expand new economic opportunities for the food and agricultural sector; safeguard the public’s food supply; inspect and enforce sound animal health practices; control and eradicate plant pests and diseases threatening the food and agriculture system; preserve the environment by which the farming community makes their living and feeds consumers; and protect consumers by enforcing laws relating to weights and measures

History

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (then known only as the Department of Agriculture) was brought into existence in 1921 by the provisions of Act 13 of the Public Acts of 1921. Previous to this time, the regulatory work affecting agriculture was administered by commissions, departments and individuals. The act creating the department brought under one head the administering of all regulatory laws affecting agriculture. Commissions were abolished and all their work turned over to the newly created department. Along with a proposed merger of the Department of Environmental Quality and

Department of Natural Resources This article lists subnational environmental agencies in the United States, by state. Agencies with a variety of titles and responsibilities are included, e.g. Department of Environment, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of E ...

, in 2009 former Governor

Jennifer Granholm Jennifer Mulhern Granholm (born February 5, 1959) is a Canadian-American lawyer, educator, author, political commentator, and politician serving as the 16th United States secretary of energy since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she pre ...

issued an Executive Order making the Department's Director appointed by the Governor instead of the Agriculture Commission. In 2011, then Governor Rick Snyder renamed the department to Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, giving it an expanded mission in the rural areas to include economic, social, and educational.

Divisions

*Agriculture Development Division *Animal Industry Division *Environmental Stewardship Division *Food and Dairy Division *Laboratory Division *Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division *MDARD Executive Office *Human Resources is now part of Quality of Life Group HR Division

List of directors

* John A. Dolle (1921 - 1926) * L. Whitney Watkins (1926 - 1928) * Herbert E. Powell (1928 - 1934) * Samuel T. Metzger (1934 - 1936) * James F. Thomson (1936 - 1937) * Burr B. Lincoln (1937 - 1938) * John B. Strange (1938 - 1940) * Elmer M. Beamer (1940 - 1942) * Leo V. Card (1942 - 1944) * Charles Figy (1944 - 1954) * George S. McIntyre (1954 - 1966) * B. Dale Ball (1966 - 1980) * Dean Pridgeon (1980 - 1983) * Dr. Paul E. Kindinger (1983 - 1989) * Robert L. Mitchell (1989 - 1991) *

Bill Schuette William Duncan Schuette ( ; born October 13, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 53rd attorney general of Michigan from 2011 to 2019. He was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Senate in 1990 and for Governor of Mi ...

(1991 - 1994) * Dr. Gordon E. Guyer (1994 - 1996) *

Dan Wyant Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa **Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoi ...

(1996 - 2005) *

Mitch Irwin Mitch Irwin (born July 8, 1952) is a former Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, serving from 1979 through 1990, and was director of two state executive departments under former Governor of Michigan, Governo ...

(2005 - 2007) * Donald Koivisto (2007 - 2010) *

Keith Creagh Keith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Keith (surname) * Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949) * Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons i ...

(2011 - 2012) *

Jamie Clover Adams Jamie is a unisex name. It is a diminutive form of James or, more rarely, other names. It is also given as a name in its own right. People Female * Jamie Anne Allman (born 1977), American actress * Jamie Babbit (born 1970), American film and t ...

(2012 -2018) *

Gordon Wenk Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

(2018 to 2018) *

Gary McDowell Gary J. McDowell (born April 21, 1952) is a U.S. politician from the state of Michigan. He was elected to three, two-year terms in the Michigan House of Representatives and served from January 1, 2005, until January 1, 2011. In 2010 and 2012, h ...

(2019 to present)

Boards and councils

*Pesticide Advisory Committee (PAC) *Michigan Craft Beverage Council *Fertilizer Research Advisory Committee *Rural Development Fund Board

Office of Racing Commissioner

Executive Order No. 2009 — 45 signed on October 8, 2009 transfer the duties of the Racing Commissioner from MDARD to the

Michigan Gaming Control Board The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is a gaming control board in Michigan that provides oversight of the state's gaming industry, which was founded and authorized by statewide voting in November 1996. In 2019 the legislature passed a major ...

and abolishes the office effective January 17, 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Department of

Agriculture Department An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister ...

1921 establishments in Michigan