Commissioner of Agriculture

Commissioner Farmer's biography

Richie Farmer was elected Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture in November, 2003, and was sworn into office in January, 2004.  He was re-elected to a second four year term on November 6, 2007.

Since taking office, Commissioner Farmer has fought vigorously on behalf of Kentucky's consumers and for Kentucky's agriculture industry.   Commissioner Farmer recently spearheaded an effort to protect Kentucky motorists by persuading the legislature to fund a new state-of-the-art motor fuel quality laboratory. He has also overseen an expansion of the Department's Kentucky Proud marketing program, which is helping to expand the markets for Kentucky farm products.

Commissioner Farmer just ended a term as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, an organization that represents farmers and other agricultural interests from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the US Virgin Islands.    In this capacity, Commissioner Farmer has worked to promote the interests of producers, especially on the 2007 Farm Bill. 

Born in Clay County on Aug. 25, 1969, he is the second of Virginia and Richard Farmer's three children. Before taking office, Commissioner Farmer worked as an investment advisor in Clay County. He lives in Frankfort with his wife Rebecca and their three sons, Trey, Thomas and Tate. A 1992 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Commissioner Farmer earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management. He was also a standout player for the UK basketball Wildcats under Coach Rick Pitino.

Over the years, Commissioner Farmer has given his time to such charitable organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Children's Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, and Kicks for Kids.

Contact Commissioner Farmer at richie.farmer@ky.gov.

Commissioner's Corner

KDA helps open doors for Kentucky producers in international markets

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is hard at work to give our rural economy an economic boost by expanding markets for Kentucky farm products beyond our borders.

The KDA’s import/export advisor, Jonathan Van Balen, just got back from a trade mission to China to expand the sale of Kentucky agricultural products in the world’s most populated country. For a year now, trade specialist Silvia Alonso has been directing Kentucky’s trade office in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Mexico is Kentucky’s third-largest trade partner, trailing only Canada and France. Exports from Kentucky to Mexico in 2007 totaled $1.4 billion, including $30.5 million in agricultural products.

Mirroring the global recession, this year’s U.S. agricultural exports are projected to decline by 17.3 percent ($20 billion) from last year’s record $115.5 billion.

Kentucky ranks in the middle of the pack, 28th out of the 50 states, in sales of agriculture products overseas. I think we can do better. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's marketing staff is here to help.

Click here to find out more about the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's international marketing program.