Agriculture & Markets Dept history

The NASS traces its roots back to 1863, when USDA established a Division of Statistics.

Established by the Legislature in 1874, the Georgia Department of Agriculture is the nation’s oldest such agency.

A State Board of Inspection Commissioners, appointed by the governor, was created by an act of the General Assembly in 1881.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries was created as the Department of Agriculture by a legislative act sponsored by State Senator Hiram Hawkins of Barbour County that was passed on February 23, 1883.

In 1885 the Office of the State Dairy Commissioner was created.

In 1891, the Legislature established that the Commissioner of Agriculture would be elected by popular vote rather that appointed by the Governor.

The adoption of the 1901 Constitution brought two changes to the Department.

By 1903, this board was recreated as the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners, which provided for the inspection of livestock before shipment by railroad or removal beyond the state boundaries, quarantine against infectious diseases in livestock and penalties for violation of the law.

In 1907, the Legislature established two Boards to work with the Department of Agriculture and Industries and its Commissioner.

Agricultural statistics were collected by county assessors but then compiled by the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture by 1908.

A State Fair Board was created in 1911 and comprised of the State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Horticulture.

In 1913 the Office of the State Horticulturist was also created under the State Board of Agriculture.

In 1915, the Legislature imposed upon the Commissioner the duty of supervising and regulating the farm produce business and the major responsibility of aiding and encouraging immigration to Alabama of those seeking investments or homesteads.

Support for a state fair grew until, in 1917, a State Fair Commission was established and gave official status to the annual Colorado State Fair at Pueblo.

The Branch's structure developed from a series of legislative and regulatory actions begun in the 1920s.

In 1923, the Alabama Legislature passed an important Act that served as the basic legislative foundation of the modern Department and its activities.

In 1925, a Division of Publications and Industry was established to handle the increased amount of reports and newsletters that were being produced by the Department and to publish an “Alabama Handbook” which promoted the State for industrial growth and immigration.

In 1927, the Agricultural Code of Alabama was revised and rewritten and enacted by the Alabama Legislature.

That act was repealed in 1932 and replaced by the Produce Dealers Act which covers all farm products grown or produced in California except milk, timber, cattle, and vegetable seed sold between dealers.

In 1933, a Division of Agriculture was created and combined many of these functions.

The Processors Law of 1935 was added to regulate all persons who purchase from growers California farm products for processing.

Since 1937 the Marketing Act has been amended several times; other statues authorizing marketing councils and commissions have been adopted to accommodate the dynamic nature of California agriculture.

A substantial reorganization and centralization of agricultural functions occurred in 1949 with passage of the Agricultural Act of 1949.

A USDA reorganization in 1961 led to the creation of the Statistical Reporting Service, known today as NASS.

For that purpose producers and producer organizations introduced a number of milk pooling bills into the California Legislature and the Branch was created in 1969.

A Colorado State Fair Authority was created in 1983, which was an independent political subdivision, but today the Authority is again a division under the Department of Agriculture.

The Milk Producers Security Trust Fund (MPSTF) was created after legislation in 1987 required a general trust fund to be used in case of insolvency of any processor.

In 1998 Senate Bill 1198 made major changes to the licensing, investigative and settlement activities of the Branch.

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