Wanted: Statesman Advocate for Agriculture

COURT HOUSE — Garden State farmers are searching for a champion to look out for their interests in Trenton.
With the resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus, effective on the last day of this year, the state Board of Agriculture must find a replacement.
Board Member Ann Dorsett, a horse farmer from Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, visited the Dec. 3 meeting of the Cape May County Agriculture Board to tell local farmers to think of strong candidates for the position.
Dorsett told the Herald that an ideal candidate would not only be knowledgeable of agricultural industry issues, but also comfortable “walking the halls of the statehouse” as an effective advocate for farmers, not merely a liaison to Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
“In these difficult budgetary times and with important issues such as farmland assessment being discussed, we need someone to stress agriculture viability to the Governor and the importance of the department and its programs,” Dorsett said.
Farmers from this county and across the state were able to save the Agriculture Department from the chopping block earlier this year by holding a tractor rally in Trenton to oppose the governor’s plans to abolish the department.
Unsaved were the state Department of Personnel and the Commerce Commission, which were eliminated from Corzine’s $32.9 billion state budget.
One name recently suggested for the secretary position was Assemblyman Douglas Fisher (D-3rd), who serves as chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee.
According to a release from the assemblyman’s office in Bridgeton, Fisher worked closely with Kuperus to prevent the department from being dissolved.
“The Department of Agriculture provides crucial services that help grow the state’s multi-billion dollar food and agriculture complex,” Fisher said in April when after the governor had proposed his cuts.
“Ag works. Leave it alone. It runs efficiently and runs great programs.”
When Kuperus announced his resignation on Oct. 24, a release noted his role in restructuring the department to make it more efficient and to better reflect the issues impacting state agriculture.
“When I became Secretary of Agriculture seven years ago, my goal was to accelerate the preservation of farmland, strengthen the industry to allow agriculture to thrive, and encourage the next generation and welcome new people into agriculture in our state,” Kuperus said.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture toward those goals during my tenure.”
Fisher said Kuperus’ departure would be a tremendous loss for the state’s agriculture community.
“Every farm and farmer in New Jersey had a strong champion in Charlie Kuperus,” he said.
Fisher confirmed for the Herald an interest in the post. He said that representatives from both the farming community and the administration have asked him to consider the position.
He noted how his track record shows his interest in serving New Jersey’s agriculture community. He also said he is aware of some particular issues farmers are having in Cape May County.
“My hat is in the ring,” he said.
Dorsett said the state board would be accepting applications for the Secretary position until Dec. 15 and would make a decision shortly thereafter. The eight-member board serves as the policy-making entity for the department and is responsible for appointing the new secretary with the governor’s approval.
Kuperus’ replacement, whether it’s Fisher or another candidate, will oversee the programs that affect the state’s nearly 10,000 farms and an agriculture industry that contributes billions of dollars annually to the state’s economy.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com