Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Agency overview
Formed	1921
Headquarters	Lansing, Michigan
Employees	400 (2011 Fiscal Yr)
Annual budget	$77.6 million (2010-11 Fiscal Yr)[1]
Ministers responsible	Donald Coe, Commission Chair Velmar Green, Commission Vice Chair Jennifer Fike, Commission Secretary Diane Hanson, Commissioner Bob Kennedy, Commissioner
Agency executives	Keith Creagh, Director Gordon Wenk, Chief Deputy Director
Website
www.michigan.gov/mda

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, formerly the Michigan Department of Agriculture is a department of the Michigan state government created in 1921 to enforce laws regarding agriculture production and distribution. A five-member commission head the Department with a Director of Agriculture & Rural Development to administer the day-to-day activities. Under Governor Rick Snyder, 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.^[2]

History

Along with a proposed merger of the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources, in 2009 former Governor Jennifer Granholm issued an Executive Order making the Department's Director appointed by the Governor instead of the Agriculture Commission. ^[3] In 2011, current 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.^[4]

Director of Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Incumbent Keith Creagh[4]
Appointer	Michigan Commission of Agriculture & Rural Development[5]
Formation	1921
Website	michigan.gov/mda

Divisions

• Animal Industry Division
• Food and Dairy Division
• Laboratory Division
• Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division
• Environmental Stewardship Division
• Office of Agriculture Development
• Operational Services and Central Licensing Division
• MDARD Executive Office
• Human Resources is now part of Quality of Life Group HR Division^[6]

Boards and Councils

• Pesticide Advisory Committee (PAC)
• Michigan Agricultural Tourism Advisory Commission
• Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council
• Michigan Food Policy Council (MFPC)
• Michigan Organic Advisory Committee
• Commercialization Roundtable

The Office of the Racing Commissioner is no longer part of the Agriculture Department due to Governor Jennifer Granholm's Executive Order No. 2009 — 45 signed on October 8, 2009 transferring the duties of the Racing Commissioner to the Michigan Gaming Control Board thus abolishing the office effective January 17,2010.^[7] />

References

1. ^ "Appropriations: 2010-2011 Agriculture budget". michigan.gov w ebsite. State of Michigan. 2008-03-06. http://www.michiganvotes.org/2010-HB-5875. Retrieved 2008-08-11. 
2. ^ Luke, Peter. "Gov.-elect Snyder says environmental departments will focus on "quality of life"". MLive.com. http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/post_1.html. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
3. ^ "Governor Granholm Issues EO on Agriculture, DNR; Recommits to Gubernatorial Appointment of Directors". michigan.gov. http://www.michigan.gov/granholm/0,1607,7-168-23442_21974-227163--,00.html. Retrieved 2009-12-01. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "AP Interview: Ag director takes on rural mission in Michigan". Flint Journal. The Associated Press. February 12, 2011. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/02/ap_interview_ag_director_takes.html. Retrieved 12 May 2011. 
5. ^ "Keith Creagh Profile". MDARD - Meet the Director. Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572-7385--,00.html. Retrieved 2008-08-11. 
6. ^ "MDARD Divisions" (PDF). michigan.gov website. State of Michigan. 2011-06. http://michigan.gov/mdard/0,1607,7-125-1572_2875---,00.html. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
7. ^ "Governor Granholm Issues Executive Order Creating New Department of Natural Resources and Environment" (html). michigan.gov website (State of Michigan). 2009-10. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153--223864--,00.html. Retrieved 2011-06-01.