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, and the Ambassador Circle Award by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in 2016. Secretary Scuse and his wife, Patrice, live in Smyrna on a corn, soybean and wheat farm.

DEPUTY SECRETARY AUSTIN SHORT

Austin Short has served as deputy secretary of agriculture since 2010. A former state forester, he also heads Delaware’s farmland preservation program and planning staff. He was state forester from 1995 to 2008, served as the National Association of State Foresters President in 2006-2007, and has served as acting secretary of agriculture. He holds a B.S. in forestry and an M.S. in forest biometrics from Virginia Tech; he and his wife Kelley and their sons Eli and Henry live on their family farm near Georgetown, which includes a tree farm and small sawmill.

DEPUTY SECRETARY KENNY BOUNDS

Kenny Bounds has served Delaware farmers for nearly four decades as an executive with MidAtlantic Farm Credit, retiring in 2015 as senior vice president. He previously was director of government affairs and Delmarva regional manager. A longtime advocate for agriculture, he also served as president of the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., trade group and president of the LEAD Maryland Foundation. He was honored with the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Delaware Agriculture in 2016. He holds a degree in Agronomy – Soils from the University of Maryland, College Park, is active in the Boy Scouts of America, and lives near Laurel.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT NIKKO BRADY

Nikko Brady has always been involved in community engagement from the ground up. A graduate of Boston University, Nikko’s education includes a degree in environmental analysis and policy, a master’s in city planning and urban affairs, and she is certified in applied sustainability. Nikko has a passion for understanding the needs of all stakeholders and making sure that agriculture remains sustainable in Delaware for the long haul. Prior to joining the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Nikko worked for the State of Massachusetts in the Bureau of Program Integrity under the Inspector General.

Office Locations