Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture
| Rhode Island Chief of the Division of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $192,131 (Director of environmental management) |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $143,732,584 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Rhode Island general laws, Section 42-17.1-4 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the Director of Environmental Management |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture
Kenneth Ayars | |
| Other Rhode Island Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Rhode Island Chief of the Division of Agriculture is a position in the Rhode Island state government. The Division of Agriculture falls under the purview of the Rhode Island Director of Environmental Management. The chief of the division is appointed by the director of environmental management and is not subject to term limits.
Current officeholder
The current Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture is Kenneth Ayars (nonpartisan). Ayars assumed office in 1998.
Authority
The chief of the Division of Agriculture within the Department of Environmental Management is established in Section 42-17.1-5 of the Rhode Island general laws.
§ 42-17.1-5:[1]
| There shall be a deputy director for environmental quality in the unclassified service and appointed by the governor, and an assistant director for operations, an assistant director for regulation, an assistant director for legal services, and an assistant director for administration, all of whom shall be in the classified service; and a head of each of the divisions of the department, all of whom shall be in the classified service. |
The Division of Agriculture within the Department of Environmental Management is established in Section 42-17.1-4 of the Rhode Island general laws.
§ 42-17.1-4:[2]
| A division of agriculture which shall carry out those functions of the department relating to agriculture, and such other functions and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the director, including, but not limited to, plant industry, farm viability, marketing and promotion, farmland ecology and protection, plant and animal health and quarantine, pesticides, mosquito abatement, pest survey and response, food policy and security, and, in collaboration with the department of health, public health as it relates to farm production and direct marketing of farm products, and those agreed upon through memorandum of agreement with the department of health or other state agencies. |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
In most states, the department of agriculture is overseen by a director who is either elected or appointed by the governor. In Rhode Island, the chief of the division is appointed by the Rhode Island Director of Environmental Management.[1]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The chief oversees the Rhode Island Division of Agriculture. The division regulates agriculture in the state and promotes its interests and further development.[2][3]
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Rhode Island state budget and finances
The Department of Environmental Management had a budget of $143,732,584 for the 2025 fiscal year.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the director of environmental management received a salary of $192,131, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2022
In 2022, the director of environmental management received a salary of $169,312, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2021
In 2021, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2020
In 2020, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2019
In 2019, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2018
In 2018, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2017
In 2017, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, the director of environmental management received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2014
In 2014, the director of environmental management received a salary of $108,460, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2013
In 2013, the director of environmental management received a salary of $108,460, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Rhode Island Commissioner of Agriculture. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Division of Agriculture
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908-5767
Phone: (401) 222-2781 ext. 74500
See also
| Rhode Island | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rhode Island General Laws, "§ 42-17.1-5 Deputy director – Assistant directors and heads of divisions," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rhode Island General Laws, "§ 42-17.1-4 Divisions within department," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, "Home," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Rhode Island Legislature, "2024 -- H 7225 Substitute A as Amended," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 29, 2014
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
 |
State of Rhode Island Providence (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
