# New Mexico Department of Agriculture

> Oversees all aspects of agriculture in New Mexico

**Wikidata**: [Q104905159](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104905159)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_Department_of_Agriculture)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/new-mexico-department-of-agriculture

## Summary
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is a state government agency that oversees all aspects of agriculture within the state of New Mexico. Established in 1912, it operates as an organizational component of the government of New Mexico and is headquartered in Las Cruces. The agency serves as the primary regulatory and supportive body for agricultural activities across the state.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1912, coinciding with New Mexico's statehood
- Abbreviated as NMDA
- Classified as a government agency and state agency of New Mexico
- Operates under the government of New Mexico
- Jurisdiction covers the entire state of New Mexico, United States
- Located at 3190 S. Espina, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003
- Geographic coordinates: latitude 32.27779492475005, longitude -106.75533040480397
- Official website: https://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/ (available in English)
- Contact phone number: +1-575-646-3007
- VIAF identifier: 136015480
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n50079289
- Included in the WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/New Mexico State Library focus list

## FAQs
**What does the New Mexico Department of Agriculture do?**
The NMDA oversees all aspects of agriculture throughout New Mexico, functioning as the state's dedicated agency for agricultural regulation, support, and policy implementation.

**Where is the New Mexico Department of Agriculture located?**
The agency is headquartered at 3190 S. Espina in Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, with geographic coordinates at latitude 32.27779492475005 and longitude -106.75533040480397.

**When was the New Mexico Department of Agriculture established?**
The department was created in 1912, the same year New Mexico achieved statehood, as documented by the agency's own historical records.

**How can the public contact the New Mexico Department of Agriculture?**
The agency can be reached by phone at +1-575-646-3007 or through its official website at https://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/, which is presented in English.

## Why It Matters
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture plays an essential role in sustaining and regulating one of the state's foundational industries. Agriculture in New Mexico encompasses diverse activities ranging from livestock and dairy production to specialty crops like chile peppers and pecans, all of which require oversight, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. By centralizing these responsibilities within a single state agency, New Mexico ensures that farmers, ranchers, and consumers benefit from consistent standards, safety inspections, and agricultural development programs. The department's establishment in 1912 demonstrates that agricultural governance was recognized as a priority from the very beginning of statehood, underscoring the sector's enduring economic and cultural significance to the region.

## Notable For
- Established in 1912, making it contemporaneous with New Mexico's admission as the 47th U.S. state
- Holds a dedicated Library of Congress Authority ID (n50079289), reflecting its recognition as a distinct governmental entity in national cataloging systems
- Selected for inclusion in the WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot under the New Mexico State Library initiative
- Maintains a presence on the VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) database with identifier 136015480
- Headquartered in Las Cruces, a major agricultural hub in southern New Mexico's Mesilla Valley

## Body

### History and Establishment
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture was founded in 1912, a pivotal year that also marked New Mexico's transition from territory to state. According to the agency's own historical documentation, the department was created to provide dedicated governmental oversight of agricultural matters across the newly formed state. Its inception reflected the importance of farming and ranching to New Mexico's economy and the need for structured regulatory frameworks as the state integrated into the broader United States.

### Organizational Classification
The NMDA is classified as both a government agency and a state agency of New Mexico. It functions as an organizational component of the government of New Mexico, responsible for delivering specific public services related to the agricultural sector. This classification aligns with the broader definition of a government agency as an organizational part of a government tasked with administering particular public services.

### Headquarters and Location
The department is physically located at 3190 S. Espina, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003. Its precise geographic coordinates are latitude 32.27779492475005 and longitude -106.75533040480397. Las Cruces, situated in the southern part of the state, serves as a logical base for the agency given the region's strong agricultural traditions and proximity to major farming and ranching operations in the Mesilla Valley and surrounding areas.

### Contact and Online Presence
The NMDA maintains an official website at https://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/, which is presented in English and serves as the primary digital portal for public access to agency information, services, and resources. The department can also be reached by telephone at +1-575-646-3007. The website URL indicates a partnership or hosting relationship with New Mexico State University (NMSU), a land-grant institution with deep agricultural research ties.

### Jurisdictional Scope
The agency's jurisdiction extends across the entire state of New Mexico, as indicated by its "applies to jurisdiction" designation. Within this scope, the NMDA oversees all aspects of agriculture, a broad mandate that encompasses regulatory, promotional, and support functions for the state's diverse agricultural industries.

### Bibliographic and Authority Records
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is cataloged in multiple authority databases. Its Library of Congress Authority ID is n50079289, and its VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) identifier is 136015480. These identifiers facilitate accurate referencing and cross-referencing of the agency across library systems, academic databases, and international cataloging networks. The department also appears on the focus list of the WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/New Mexico State Library, indicating its relevance to collaborative bibliographic and data initiatives within the state.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/nmda-homepage/nmda-history-2/)
2. [Source](https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Mexico+Dept+of+Agriculture,+3190+S+Espina+St,+Las+Cruces,+NM+88001/@32.2775636,-106.757444,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x86de17bbd7585bf5:0x959a95bde4ea77be!8m2!3d32.2775591!4d-106.7552553)
3. [Source](https://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/)