The Department is responsible for serving farmers and consumers of agricultural products and operates with an annual budget of just under $25 million.

[2] The current and 30th Commissioner is Rick Pate of Lowndes County who was elected in November, 2018 and assumed office on January 14, 2019.

His immediate predecessor and the 29th Commissioner was John McMillan, a Republican first elected in November 2010 and not eligible to seek a third consecutive term.

Commissioner McMillan previously worked for the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Both Commissioners Pete Gilmer and McMillan Lane were first appointed to office by Governor George C. Wallace upon the death of their predecessors.