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’s 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 PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT
GEORGE CLASS-PETERS

George Class-Peters began his tenure with the Delaware Department of Agriculture in 2022 as the Deputy Principal Assistant. Before joining the Department, George worked for his alma mater, the University of Delaware, where he earned an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Health. George’s connection to agriculture has spanned over a decade as he was engaged in agriscience education through the Smyrna School District. He has served the Delaware FFA Association as a state officer and at the National FFA Organization as the National Chairman of the National Officer Nominating Committee. Through his work in these roles, George solidified his passion for agricultural education, leadership, and policy. With various experiences and connections involving members of Delaware’s General Assembly and the Congressional delegation, he strives to work closely with these all to ensure equitable policy and programs are sustained for Delaware’s top industry.

Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council

LEADelaware

ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT JIMMY KROON

Jimmy Kroon has served 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 crops, 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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