James R. Comer

Commissioner of Agriculture

James R. Comer, a native of Tompkinsville, was elected Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture on November 8, 2011, and was sworn in on January 2, 2012.

Comer’s passion for agriculture is reflected in his vast amount of experience in the areas of agriculture and business.  He is the founder and owner of James Comer, Jr. Farms, a 950-acre beef cattle, timber and hay farming operation located in Monroe County. He also co-owns Comer Land & Cattle Co., a family farming operation which includes his father and brother. Comer was a director of South Central Bank for 12 years.  He was the 1999-2000 Monroe County Chamber of Commerce President.  Comer is a Western Kentucky University graduate with a degree in Agriculture. While at WKU, he received the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Scholarship and was the Kentucky Future Farmers of America State President (1990-1991).

Elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2000, at just 27 years old, Comer hit the ground running, passing a record of five bills into law-- the most for a freshman member of the Republican caucus in Frankfort.

Recognized for his work on behalf of hard-working Kentuckians, Comer was named Guardian of Small Business and Kentucky Jaycees Outstanding Young Kentuckian in subsequent years of his tenure in the House.

As your Agriculture Commissioner, Comer wants to expand markets for Kentucky agriculture products, enhance rural economic development, add transparency to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and promote the Kentucky Proud Program. 

Comer is married to Tamara Jo (T.J.). They have three children, Reagan, Harlan and Aniston.

Contact Commissioner Comer at james.comer@ky.gov.

Commissioner's Corner

It's a new day and a new way at the KDA

Words cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity you have given me to serve as your Commissioner of Agriculture. I am humbled by your confidence in my leadership, and I pledge to work hard every day to live up to your expectations.

On day one, my staff and I hit the ground running. The men and women I hired to fill key roles in my administration are talented, enthusiastic, and well-qualified. I will appoint others in the weeks to come. I have been impressed by the dedication and work ethic of the Department’s career employees, and I look forward to working with them to serve you every day.

I am eager to fill the role of the elected leader of Kentucky agriculture. As a farmer and a businessman, I share in your struggles and take great joy in your accomplishments.  Prices for cattle, crops, and other commodities are strong. This past year, for the first time in history, farm gate cash receipts exceeded $5 billion. But skyrocketing input costs have offset those gains.  We are constantly besieged by over-reaching regulations that stifle job creation. Ultimately, our goal is to keep the farming industry strong so that our children and grandchildren can find quality jobs here.

To that end, I’ll repeat what I promised you the day I was sworn into office: Help is on the way.

In the weeks and months to come, I will lay out my plans for helping Kentucky’s farmers, farm businesses, and rural communities. I will be your champion in Frankfort and Washington. I will work side-by-side with Kentucky Farm Bureau and Kentucky’s outstanding commodity organizations as we do all we can to help your operations thrive.

I will maintain an open, transparent, accessible Department of Agriculture that will be a responsible steward of your tax dollars. We will work with one goal in mind: to serve you to the best of our abilities each and every day. My door is always open, and I encourage you to stop in and say hello when you are in the Frankfort area.

We work in the most important industry in the world. We feed our communities and create jobs that support our friends and neighbors. It’s a new day at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and I look forward to celebrating our achievements.