The Federation Bureau of Agricultural Affairs was an agency of the United Federation of Planets, based on Earth, who conducted affairs related to agriculture. During the 2260s, Mr. Baris was the Federation Undersecretary in charge of Agricultural Affairs in the quadrant near the Klingon border.
In 2268, he was given charge of the development project on Sherman's Planet. It was under his authority, given to him by Agricultural Affairs, that he was able to call a Code 1 emergency defense alert. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")