Kentucky Department of Agriculture

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.

Commissioner
James R. Comer

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.