Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
(MDAR) Boards and Commissions
MDAR’s mission to support, regulate, and promote the Commonwealth’s agricultural future is enhanced by the various boards and commissions upon which the Department draws expertise and guidance. Current and statutorily authorized boards include the Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee (ALPC), Dairy Promotion Board, Farm Technology Review Commission (FTRC), Food and Agriculture Board, Pesticide Board, and State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board.
While the names of all board/commission members as well as contact information for the various MDAR staff liaisons are provided, please note that all Department Boards and Commissions may also be reached directly for official correspondence by US Post at:
(Name of the Board/Commission being reached)
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway St., Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
Chairman: Scott J. Soares, Commissioner, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Carol Szocik, Paralegal - Carol.Szocik@state.ma.us or 617-626-1718
The ALPC’s function is to evaluate and accept or reject applications for Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) projects based upon the criteria outlined in the General Laws. There are four farmer members appointed by the Governor; one member from the Board of Agriculture; two non-voting members; a designee of the Undersecretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, a designee of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs; and the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources who serves as the chair.
State Agency Members:
Scott J. Soares, Commissioner, MDAR
Robert O’Conner, designee of Secretary Sullivan, EOEEA
Miryam Bobadilla, designee of Undersecretary Brooks, EOHE
Gordon Price, Chairman, Board of Agriculture
Public Members (Appointed by the Governor):
Stephen Verrill –farmer
Warren Shaw, Jr. –farmer
Frederick Dabney, Jr. – farmer
George Beebe – farmer
Non-Voting Members:
Barbara Miller, designee of Christine Clarke, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Stephen Herbert, Designee of Dean Goodwin, College of Sciences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Chairman: Fredrick
Dabney
Staff Liaison: Nathan L’Etoile, Assistant Commissioner, MDAR
Nathan.L’Etoile@state.ma.us or 617-626-1702
The Board of Food and Agriculture represents the interests of agriculture to the Department and provides input on policy development and budgetary decisions. The Board’s approval is required for the appointment or dismissal of the Assistant Commissioner as well as all Division Directors. It consists of seven members, each of whom must be from a different county, four of whom shall be farmers.
Public Members (Appointed by the Governor):
Richard Canning – Barnstable County, farmer
Fredrick Dabney – Bristol County, farmer
Judy Leab – Berkshire County, farmer
John Lebeaux – Worcester County, town administrator
Frank Matheson – Middlesex County, farmer
Gordon Price –Essex County, farmer
Kim Stevens - Franklin County, farmer
Chairman: The Commissioner of Agricultural Resources’ designee Gerard Kennedy, Director of the Division of Agricultural Technical Assistance, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Gerard Kennedy - Gerard.Kennedy@state.ma.us or 617-626-1773
The role of the FTRC is to study and recommend options for updating farming technology. This is a broad mandate, which includes but is not limited to: ways to promote energy conservation; collaborative purchasing; purchasing and selling of energy; and energy saving technology. In addition, the Commission will also recommend alternative options for agricultural sustainability and growth, and analyze regulations and statutes to ensure that they are not impediments to the adoption of such farming technology. The Commission consists of representatives of the Department of Agricultural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Public Health, Department of Revenue, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative the Massachusetts Cooperative of Milk Producers Federation, the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers, and a Dairy Farmer Licensed as a Producer Dealer.
State Agency Members:
Gerard Kennedy- designee of Commissioner Scott J. Soares, MDAR
Ed Kunce – designee Commissioner Ken Kimmel , MDEP
Roy Petre– designee Commissioner John Auerbach, MDPH
Dennis Buckley,-designee of Commissioner Navjeet Bal, MDOR
Carter Wall, Clean Energy Center
Public Members (Appointed by the Governor):
James Cooper, dairy farmer licensed as a producer handler
Mark Duffy, Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers
Peter Melnik, Massachusetts Cooperative of Milk Producers Federation
Chairman: Gregory
C. Watson, Commissioner, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Bonita Oehlke, Bonita.Oehlke@state.ma.us 617-626-1753
Chapter 277 of the Acts of 2010 amends Massachusetts General Law Chapter 20 by inserting Section 6C, creating a 17-member Food Policy Council (“FPC”). The purpose of the council is to develop recommendations to advance the following food system goals for the commonwealth including (A) increased production, sales and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods; (B) the development and promotion of programs that deliver healthy Massachusetts-grown foods to Massachusetts residents, through programs such as: (i) targeted state subsidies; (ii) increased state purchasing of local products for school and summer meals and other child and adult care programs; (iii) double coupon initiatives; (iv) direct market subsidies to communities with identified needs; (v) increased institutional purchases of Massachusetts-grown foods and other programs to make access to healthy Massachusetts products affordable, and (vi) increased access to healthy Massachusetts-grown foods in communities with disproportionate burdens of obesity and chronic diseases; (C) the protection of the land and water resources required for sustained local food production; and (D) the training, retention and recruitment of farmers and providing for the continued economic viability of local food production, processing and distribution in the commonwealth.
State Agency Members:
Secretary Gregory Bialecki, MEOHED
Commissioner John Auerbach, MDPH
Com Katie Millet, designee Commissioner of Education, MESE
Deputy Commissioner Gary Moran, MDEP
Commissioner Julia Kehoe, MDTA
Commissioner Gregory C. Watson, MDAR
Legislative Members (Appointed by the Governor):
Senator Susan Fargo
Representative Kimberly Ferguson
Senator Michael Knapik
Representative Steve Kulik
Industry Members (Appointed by the Governor):
Valerie Bassett, MA Public Health Association, Community based nutrition and public health expert
Frank Carlson, Carlson Orchards, Food Processor and Handler
Jeff Cole, Executive Director, Mass Farmers Markets, Direct to Consumer Marketing
Manuel Costa, President, Costa Fruit & Produce, Food Processor and Distributor
Helen Caulton-Harris, Springfield Board of Health, Local Health Department Representation
John Lee, Allandale Farm, Farmer
Food Safety Expert, vacant
Chairman: The
Commissioner of Agricultural Resources’ designee Mary Jordan, 617-626-1750
Director
of the Division of Agricultural Markets
The Dairy Promotion Board develops programs and policies with the objective of increasing the consumption of Massachusetts dairy products through promotion, research, and educational activities. The nine member board is made up of representatives of the Department of Agricultural Resources, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, the dairy farming industry, and the milk processing industry.
State Agency Members:
Mary Jordan - designee Commissioner Scott J. Soares, MDAR
Sean Faherty - designee Secretary Jay Gonzalez, A&F
Staff Liaison: Julia Grimaldi, MDPB Coordinator, 617-626-1763
Public Members (Appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources):
Sam Shields, dairy farmer, Agri-Mark,
Krisanne Koebke, dairy farmer, MA Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Inc.
Darryl Williams, dairy farmer, MA Association of Dairy Farmers
David Hanson, dairy farmer, Agri-Mark
Kathleen Herrick, dairy farmer, MA Association of Dairy Farmers
Warren Shaw, dairy farmer, New England Producer Handler Association
Lynne Bohan, Massachusetts Food Association
Chairman: The Commissioner of Agricultural Resources’ designee Lee Corte-Real,
Director of the Division of Crop & Pest Services, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Lee Corte-Real - Lee.Corte-Real@state.ma.us or 617-626-1776
The Board's responsibilities entail advising the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources with respect to the implementation and administration of Massachusetts general laws pertaining to pesticides. The Board also hears appeals of those aggrieved by the actions or decisions of the Department or the Subcommittee of the Pesticide Board. The thirteen member board consists of representatives of the Department of Agricultural Resources, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Food and Drugs, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Public Health, as well as farming, commercial pesticide applicators, pesticide toxicology, the environmental community, the medical community, and citizens at large.
State Agency Members:
Lee Corte-Real, designee Commissioner Scott J. Soares, MDAR
Kathy Romero, Designee Commissioner Kenneth L. Kimmel, MDEP
Martha Steele, designee Commissioner John Auerbach, MDPH
Michael Moore, MDPH-Bureau of Environmental Health, Food Protection Program
Jack Buckley, designee Commissioner Mary Griffin, MDFG
Ken Gooch, designee Commissioner Edward M. Lambert Jr., MDCR
Public Members (Appointed by the Governor):
Dr. Cheryl Barbanel, physician and professor
Richard Berman, pesticide applicator
Dr. Richard Bonnano, farmer
William Clark, conservation agent and extension agent
Laurell Farinon, conservation agent
Dr. Jack Looney, professor
Dr. Brian Magee, toxicologist
Chairman: The Commissioner of Agricultural Resources’ designee Lee Corte-Real,
Director of the Division of Crop & Pest Services, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Mark Buffone, Executive Director, SRMCB - Mark.Buffone@state.ma.us or 617-626-1777
The SRMCB oversees mosquito control in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and establishes administrative and technical policy, guidelines, and best
management practices to insure that mosquito control programs are effective
and safe. The SRMCB also appoints all Commissioners of the various
regional mosquito control projects. The three member board is comprised
of representatives of the Departments of Agricultural Resources, Conservation
and Recreation, and Environmental Protection.
State Agency Members:
Lee Corte-Real, designee Commissioner Scott J. Soares, MDAR
Gary Gonyea, designee Commissioner Ken Kimmel, MDEP
Anne Carroll, designee Commissioner Edward Lambert, MDCR
SMALL FARM DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING CENTER REVIEW BOARD (State Review Board)
Chairman: Commissioner, MDAR
Staff Liaison: Richard Chandler, rick.chandler@state.ma.us
Responsibilities of the SRB: Established under the terms of Chapter 664 of the Acts of 1986 to review and approve Lessee activities under the terms of a lease to the New England Small Farm Institute on 475 acres of state owned land in Belchertown to develop a “Small Farm Demonstration and Training Center”
Current State Review Board Membership (Voting – all positions may be represented by a designee): Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources (Chair/Convener); Commissioner Department of Capital Asset Management; Director/Dean, UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture; Director, UMass Amherst Extension/Center for Agriculture; Dean, UMass Amherst College of Natural Resources; Chair, Belchertown Conservation Commission; Chair, Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC); Director, Division of Agricultural Conservation and Technical Assistance
|
