The Commissioner of Agriculture is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

[5] While of significant prominence in the early 20th century, the office's political profile diminished over subsequent decades as the importance of agriculture in the state's economy declined.

[6] A 1968 constitutional study commission recommended making the governor responsible for the selection of the commissioner to reduce voters' burden by shortening the ballot, but this proposal was disregarded by the General Assembly when it revised the state constitution in 1971.

[11] Article III, Section 7, of the Constitution of North Carolina stipulates the popular election of the Commissioner of Agriculture every four years.

Per Article III, Section 8 of the constitution, the commissioner sits on the Council of State.

[16] The commissioner chairs the North Carolina Board of Agriculture, which has statutory authority to adopt rules for the department.

[16] As of December 2022, the department has 1,753 employees retained under the terms of the State Human Resources Act.