New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Secretary
Website: https://nmdeptag.nmsu.edu/ Social Media:
About:
Jeff Witte comes from a ranching family in northern New Mexico. He graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management and a master’s degree in agricultural economics and economics.
Jeff was named director/secretary of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture in 2011. He is past president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, past president of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture, past president of the Western United States Agriculture Trade Association, and is currently chair of NASDA’s Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Jeff was appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee in 2015, serving as vice chair of the LGAC and chairing the healthy communities work group. His term ended in December 2024. The committee provides advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator to assist in developing a stronger partnership with local governments.
In 2020, Jeff was appointed by EPA as a new member of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee and has been reappointed to a term ending in November 2026. The committee provides independent policy advice, information and recommendations to the EPA regarding environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. He was appointed to the USDA Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics in 2020. The purpose of the committee is to advise the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA National Agricultural Statics Service on the conduct of agricultural censuses and surveys and also leads the NASDA and NASS modernization steering committee.
Jeff is married to Janet, and they have two adult children and a precious granddaughter.
