Delaware Department of
Agriculture

Office of the Secretary

2320 South DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
Phone: (302) 698-4500
Phone: (800) 282-8685 (Toll-Free in Delaware)
TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service at (800) 282-5460 for assistance.

SECRETARY MICHAEL T. SCUSE

In January 2017, Michael T. Scuse was reappointed by Governor John C. Carney as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. Scuse previously served with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Acting Deputy Secretary of agriculture, and Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. As Under Secretary, he oversaw USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Foreign Agricultural Services. He served as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture from 2001-2008, and also served as Chief of Staff to former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. He has received the Medal of Achievement from the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. in 2006; the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Delaware Agriculture in 2012; the Ambassador Circle Award by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in 2016; the National FFA VIP Citation Award and the World Trade Center Delaware Champion of Trade Award in 2019. Secretary Scuse and his wife, Patrice, live in Smyrna on a corn, soybean, and wheat farm.

DEPUTY SECRETARY NIKKO BRADY

Nikko Brady is the Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy, a master’s in City Planning & Urban Affairs, and a certification in Applied Sustainability. Before joining the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Nikko worked as a policy analyst with the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General. Her background is in public policy and program integrity of government nutrition programs. Since 2017, Nikko has managed the Department’s legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives. Nikko advises the Secretary on policy related to the Department and the agricultural industry. Part of her responsibility is pursuing projects that advance the industry, including promoting factual and science-based narratives about agriculture and the role of the agriculture sector to ensure health and nutrition in Delaware and throughout the world.

Nikko has also worked with the Secretary to create the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, the first of its kind in Delaware. With its statewide approach, the Council addresses food insecurity challenges in urban and rural communities. Nikko is also Co-Director of the LEADelaware program, a leadership development program for agriculture professionals in Delaware. She also previously served as Deputy Principal Assistant in the Department.

Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council

LEADelaware

ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT JIMMY KROON

Jimmy Kroon has served in several roles at the Delaware Department of Agriculture since 2003. He currently oversees the administration of DDA, including the agency’s daily operations, annual budget, and technology initiatives. He also directly manages the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Program with over 140,000 acres of permanently preserved farms. Jimmy’s prior experience at DDA includes apiary inspection, pest detection of crop, nursery stock, and forest pests, coordinating GIS projects for farmland preservation and other programs, and supporting wildland fire response in western states as a GIS Specialist. Jimmy resides in Felton, and holds degrees in biology and environmental science from the University of Maine at Machias, and a graduate degree in geographic information systems from Penn State.

Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Program

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