Title XL, Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry

The commissioner shall collect and publish information relative to the agricultural resources of the state, and disseminate such information throughout the country in such ways as may be approved by the governor and council.

The department of agriculture, markets, and food shall design, establish, and contract with a third party for the implementation and operation of an electronic system to facilitate the handling of all departmental licensing, certification, and registration duties. Such system sha…

The commissioner shall, before December 31 of each even-numbered year, submit a report to the governor and council, which shall include an account of the general work of the department, the special teaching and that of the heads of the various departments under his jurisdiction, …

I. The commissioner shall have power to enter into compacts, subject to congressional approval, with legally constituted milk commissions or similar authorities of other states or of the United States of America to effect a uniformity in regulating and insuring an adequate supply…

The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food shall operate the state building at the Eastern States Exposition, and his legitimate expenses incurred in the performance of this duty shall be a charge upon the appropriation made therefor.

The New Hampshire region trustee board of the Eastern States Exposition shall constitute an advisory committee to the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food with whom the commissioner shall consult from time to time in the operation of the state building at the exposition…

The commissioner, at his discretion, may rent the building or parts thereof for exhibition purposes, at reasonable rates, giving first preference to exhibitors of this state. The commissioner may also rent the building, or any parts thereof, for the purpose of storage or other us…

In case of partial or total destruction of the building by fire or otherwise, the commissioner may make needed repairs or replacement, with the approval of the governor and council, and may use the proceeds of any insurance.

The general court finds that it is in the public interest to advance, encourage, and protect agricultural fairs including the exhibition of livestock and agricultural produce of all kinds, as well as related arts and businesses. Fair exhibitions are an integral and historical par…

In this subdivision: I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food. II. "Department" means the New Hampshire department of agriculture, markets, and food. III. "Fair" means a member in good standing of the New Hampshire Association o…

There is hereby established the capital improvement program grant fund to be used by the department to assist fairs in the manner provided by this chapter. Only the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may approve applications and authorize disbursements from the fund. The…

The following conditions and criteria shall be met by a fair to be eligible for a capital improvement program grant awarded by the commissioner. However, the commissioner may make exceptions to the above conditions and criteria. The fair applicant shall: I. Be a non-profit associ…

I. The board of directors of a fair may apply to the department for grant award from the capital improvement program grant fund on forms provided by the department. II. The commissioner shall allocate at least 95 percent of the capital improvement program grant fund, including fu…

I. Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall provide grant funds on a competitive basis, to support capital projects that make health and safety improvements to agricultural fairgrounds or fair facilities in order to benefit participants and the fair-going public…

The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the administration of the capital improvement grant program under this subdivision.

The commissioner shall compile an annual report detailing the number of disbursements from the fund, the amount of each disbursement, what entity received the disbursement, and the purpose of the disbursement, and shall submit such report to the speaker of the house of representa…

Each capital improvement grant recipient shall use the calendar year as its fiscal year for keeping the books, records, and reports relative to the use of grant funds. All records such as invoices, contracts, or other documents supporting grant fund uses shall be preserved and av…

The failure to keep financial records shall be considered sufficient cause for the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food to withhold the distribution of funds.

The department of agriculture, markets, and food shall be responsible for the following general functions: I. Promoting and regulating agriculture in all its branches. II. Regulating all commercial transactions involving the measurement of weight, distance, volume, or time. III. …

I. It is the policy of the state of New Hampshire through the department of agriculture, markets, and food and in conjunction with other state agencies to encourage and support local food producers, farming, and fisheries, including businesses engaged in agriculture, the raising …

I. The department of agriculture, markets, and food shall establish a 2-year pilot program to use grants to reimburse New Hampshire school administrative units for money spent to purchase food from New Hampshire and New England producers. Only school districts participating in th…

The division of agricultural development is hereby created in the department of agriculture, markets, and food to foster, support and assist in the orderly development of the state's agricultural resources.

I. The commissioner shall nominate a director for the division of agricultural development for appointment by the governor, with the consent of the council. The division director shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The director shall be qualified by reason of profess…

The division of agricultural development is authorized and directed to obtain and disseminate information in regard to quality, quantity, and location of agricultural, horticultural, orchard, dairy, and other similar products; assist producers in finding available and profitable …

I. There shall be a board advisory to the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food which shall consist of the following 15 members: (a) Ten members, one from each county, actively engaged in agriculture. (b) One member who shall represent the petroleum industry. (c) One mem…

The board shall consult with and advise the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food with respect to the laws, policies, programs, and operations of the department on a continuing basis and for such purposes shall meet with the commissioner not less than semi-annually at th…

I. There is hereby established an agriculture in the classroom committee, the purpose of which is to enhance the understanding of agriculture among K - 12 school students throughout the state using interdisciplinary education, leading to a new generation of knowledgeable citizens…

I. The commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the council, for a term of 5 years. Prior to the appointment of a commissioner, the governor and council shall receive and consider the recommendations …

In addition to the powers, duties, and functions otherwise vested by law in the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food, the commissioner shall: I. Represent the public interest in the administration of the department and be responsible to the governor, the general court, …

I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food. II. "Department" means the department of agriculture, markets, and food. III. "Farm" means any farm engaged in the growing, harvesting, packing, or holding of produce pursuant to the Foo…

The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food, whenever, in the commissioner's opinion, the public good so requires, may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, establishing official grades and standards for farm products which are produced within the state for purposes of sale.…

I. Any person who, personally or by a servant or agent, violates any provision of this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For any subsequent offense, a person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if …

Requirements for production, sale, and marketing of apples in New Hampshire shall be identical to the requirements promulgated by the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.

When the commissioner learns of any violation of any provision of this subdivision he or she shall cause notice of such violation, together with a copy of the findings, to be given to the person or persons concerned. Persons so notified shall be afforded a hearing under rules ado…

In this subdivision: I. "Cider" means the unfermented juice of apples. II. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food. III. "Person" means any individual, firm, company, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, business tr…

The commissioner may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the manufacture, blending, labeling, and sale of cider in New Hampshire. Such rules shall be designed to ensure the following: I. That any cider which is claimed or implied to have been produced in New Hampshire…

It shall be unlawful in New Hampshire to manufacture, sell, or distribute cider or any product called "cider" by any means that violate any of the provisions of this subdivision, or any of the rules adopted under this subdivision.

The commissioner shall have general authority to administer and enforce the provisions of this subdivision and may adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this subdivision. The commissioner or duly authorized agent shall have free access at…

When the commissioner or duly authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe cider is being distributed in violation of any of the provisions of this subdivision, or any of the rules adopted under this subdivision, the commissioner or duly authorized agent may issue and serve a…

When the commissioner learns of any violation of any provision of this subdivision, notice of such violation, together with a copy of the findings, shall be given to the person or persons concerned. Persons so notified shall be afforded a hearing under rules adopted by the commis…

I. For the purposes of this subdivision, "native lumber" means wood processed in the state of New Hampshire by mills registered in accordance with the provisions of RSA 227-I. Such wood shall be considered certified or stamped in accordance with the requirements of this section. …

The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food shall adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, necessary to administer this subdivision.

When such grades and standards are so established, the commissioner may determine the design of brands or labels for identifying such farm products, may cause said brands or labels to be printed and may authorize their use upon written application and payment of reasonable compen…

Subject to sufficient federal funding, the department shall enforce the Food Safety Modernization Act, Public Law 111-353, codified at 21 U.S.C. section 301 et seq., for standards of growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption, 21 C.F.R. Part 112, a…

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any lumber as stamped or certified native lumber unless such lumber has been graded and certified or stamped in accordance with RSA 426:18. Any person who violates any provision of this subdivision or any rule or order adopted or issued…

The establishment of such grades and standards and the determination of the design for such brands or labels shall not be effective until reasonable notice by publication has been given. The commissioner may distribute information relative to such grades, standards, brands and la…