Monmouth County's top elected official says the proposed elimination of the state Agriculture Department could make New Jersey less green.

"We have to keep the "Garden' in Garden State," Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said.

But state officials say such a move will make the state more green, as in green money, the result of savings anticipated from scrapping the Agriculture Department and two other state departments.

Burry introduced a freeholder board resolution opposing the elimination of the Agriculture Department. Board members voted unanimously for the resolution when they met Feb. 28.

Gov. Corzine announced in this year's state budget speech that he wanted to drop the Agriculture Department — which has been around since 1916 — as a cabinet-level entity, but he didn't make it immediately clear what would happen to the department's programs or 245 employees.

The Legislature has until July 1 to consider the governor's proposals before striking a balanced state budget for the new fiscal year.

Corzine administration officials say $2.5 million would be saved by eliminating the Agriculture Department and two other departments.

Burry said efforts to preserve acres of farmland in Monmouth County will be adversely affected by the proposed closing of the department. The 10,000th acre of preserved farmland and open space in the county was recorded in 2007.

"Farmland preservation is an important issue in Monmouth County," Burry said. "We shouldn't stop now."

Freeholder Robert D. Clifton said, "If the state removes itself from the process, it will abandon the farmers and the farming industry."

Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow added, "Farmland protection furthers the county's efforts to protect watersheds and manage growth."

The New Jersey Farm Bureau also is objecting to the governor's proposed elimination of the department.

"Closing the (Agriculture Department) saves the state budget very little money, since most of its vital services will need to be transferred to other state agencies," said Richard Nieuwenhuis, president of the Farm Bureau. "After all the essential functions are reassigned, this could mean a savings of as little as $300,000 or $400,000."