(RALEIGH) -- The state Department of Agriculture was just one of the areas that suffered extensive cuts in the newly passed state budget. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said his department has dealt with cutbacks for years.

"We made our case very early on that the department had taken cuts over the past 10 years that had amounted to us already being downsized below what the budget had to be, so we actually came out of the budget process okay," said Troxler.

Troxler expects the Department of Agriculture to receive a four-percent budget cut. On the other hand, he said the department was handed additional responsibilities during the just-completed legislative session.

"There was about 750 to 800 employees transferred in to the department from the State Forestry Service, from the Division of Soil and Water, from the Grade A Milk inspection program and from the state bedding inspections program."

Troxler said the drought conditions across much of North Carolina are one of the biggest concerns right now.