The Rhode Island Department of Agriculture oversees education, production, research, and other areas involving food, the environment, and farming in the state. The Department is generally under the supervision of a Secretary of Agriculture, who is appointed by the Governor and then approved by the state senate and or congress.

The overall goals of the Rhode Island Department of Agriculture includes providing information on growing safe, nutritious and affordable food, preserving farmland and conserving natural resources, improving water and air quality, innovation to grow the economy through agribusiness solutions.