Dear

Elimination of the Department of Agriculture will have a disastrous effect on the general public and the agriculture industry in New Jersey.  Closing the NJDA will save very little money since most of its vital services will be transferred to other agencies.  Vital services provided by NJDA include:  food safety, livestock and poultry disease monitoring, emergency food distribution, plant pest control, soil conservation plus other programs and services important to both the general public and agriculture.  This transfer of services to agencies like DEP and Department of Health that have limited to no experience in these areas is setting the stage for disaster.

New Jersey has invested nearly $1.1 billion in farmland preservation.  Eliminating the NJDA puts this huge investment in agriculture at risk.  Eliminating NJDA states that agriculture is not important in “The Garden State” and undermines the industry and the production of local fresh produce, meats, plants and other agricultural products. 

Agriculture pulls its own weight and has a huge positive economic impact on New Jersey.  In 2006, $924 million of farm commodities were produced in New Jersey.  Coupled with sales tax and payroll tax receipts, New Jersey agriculture generates a multi-billion dollar impact on the state’s economy. 

Take advice from the saying “If it is not broke, don’t fix it.”  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is an efficiently managed department that provides important services to the public and the agricultural community.  Agriculture creates a positive cash flow for New Jersey.  Don’t change what’s working.

Sincerely,