A unique feature of New Mexico government is that the state department of agriculture is housed at New Mexico State University, a land grant institution home to research and education in agricultural science and business development. Jeff Witte, New Mexico’s Agriculture secretary since 2011, is headquartered not in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, like other state officials, but in Las Cruces on NMSU’s campus. But as he points out, the work under his supervision touches every resident, not only through the extension offices, programs and staff situated in every county, but right on the dinner plate.