Sec. 22-6. Powers and duties of commissioner.
Sec. 22-6. Powers and duties of commissioner. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall be the administrative head of the Department of Agriculture. He shall encourage and promote the development of agriculture within the state and collect and publish
information and statistics in regard to the agricultural and animal industries and interests
of the state and submit the same to the Governor in his annual report. He shall, annually,
visit different sections of the state and investigate the methods and wants of practical
husbandry, the adaptation of agricultural products to soil, climate and markets, and, as
far as practicable, visit agricultural fairs within the state, encourage the establishment
of farmers' clubs, agricultural libraries and reading rooms and disseminate agricultural
information by lectures or otherwise. In cooperation with The University of Connecticut,
he may prepare and publish bulletins containing information concerning the cost of
production of farm products. He is authorized to hold an annual state exhibit at the
Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield, Massachusetts. He is authorized to enter
into an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture for cooperative
work in the collection and publication of agricultural statistics. The commissioner shall
have the authority to charge such fees as he may deem reasonable for publications of
information by any of the component agencies of the Department of Agriculture. The
commissioner shall review any proposed capital project which would convert twenty-five or more acres of prime farmland or one acre or more of shellfish grounds to a
nonagricultural use and if such project promotes agriculture or the goal of agricultural
land preservation or if there is no reasonable alternative site for the project he shall file
a statement with the Bond Commission so indicating. The commissioner shall file a
statement with the Bond Commission for any proposed capital project which would
convert or impair any shellfish grounds and shall include in such statement any comments he deems appropriate for the protection of such grounds. The commissioner shall
administer those provisions of sections 12-107a, 12-107b, 12-107c and 12-107e which
address the assessment of farmland and open space. The commissioner may request the
Attorney General to bring an action in the Superior Court for injunctive relief requiring
compliance with any statute, regulation, order or permit administered, adopted or issued
by him. The Commissioner of Agriculture may designate as his agent (1) any deputy
commissioner to exercise all or part of the authority, powers and duties of the commissioner in his absence and (2) any deputy commissioner or any employee to exercise
such authority of the commissioner as he delegates for the administration or enforcement
of any applicable statute, regulation, permit or order, except the authority to render a
final decision after a hearing.
(1949 Rev., S. 3054; 1953, S. 1696d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1967, P.A.
508, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 23; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 393; P.A. 77-614, S. 312, 610; P.A. 83-102, S. 2; P.A. 87-504, S. 1, 5; P.A.
89-226, S. 1; P.A. 94-201, S. 4, 7; P.A. 95-156, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e), (f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture with commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and
natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources; 1967 act deleted $2,000 limit
on expenses of exhibit at Eastern States Exposition; 1969 act allowed commissioner to charge reasonable fees for publications by component agencies of department; 1971 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture and natural
resources with commissioner and department of agriculture and added provisions placing board of agriculture and Connecticut marketing authority under supervision of commissioner and department of agriculture; P.A. 77-614 deleted provisions
which had made commissioner responsible for carrying out board of agriculture's policies and which had placed board
and marketing authority within jurisdiction of agriculture commissioner and department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
83-102 required the commissioner to review certain capital projects before bonding authorization for their impact on
agriculture and agricultural land preservation; P.A. 87-504 authorized the commissioner to request the attorney general to
seek an injunction for compliance with agricultural statutes, regulations, orders or permits; P.A. 89-226 added the provisions
authorizing the commissioner to designate an agent; P.A. 94-201 directed the commissioner to administer certain provisions
of Secs. 12-107a to 12-107c, inclusive, and 12-107e, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-156 added provisions re review of
capital projects which will affect shellfish grounds; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner and Department
of Agriculture with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A.
04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture
and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.
See Sec. 19a-341 re inspection and approval of agricultural or farming operations to determine that operation follows
generally accepted agricultural practices.
See Sec. 22a-285a re proposals for ash residue disposal areas.