Delaware Secretary of Agriculture
| Delaware Secretary of Agriculture | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $135,327 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $18,480,200 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Delaware Code, 29-81-8102 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture
Don Clifton | |
| Other Delaware Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Auditor•Secretary of Education•Agriculture Secretary•Insurance Commissioner•Natural Resources Secretary•Labor Secretary•Public Service Commission | |
The Delaware Secretary of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Delaware state government. The secretary heads the Delaware Department of Agriculture, which regulates and promotes Delaware agricultural produce. The department also inspects agricultural goods and production facilities to promote health and safety, provides marketing assistance to the state's farmers, manages state forests, and sets standards for weights and measures. The secretary serves at the governor's pleasure, with no term limits for the office.
Current officeholder
The current Delaware Secretary of Agriculture is Don Clifton (nonpartisan). Clifton assumed office in 2025.
Authority
The office of secretary of agriculture is established by state law.[1]
Delaware Code, 29-81-8102
| (a) The administrator and head of the Department shall be the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. |
Qualifications
State law requires the secretary to be "a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office," but does not give specific guidance as to what that training or experience is.[1]
Appointments
Secretaries are appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the state Senate. They serve at the governor's pleasure.[1]
Delaware Code, 29-81-8102
| The Secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. |
Term limits
There are no term limits for the office of secretary of agriculture.
Vacancies
When a vacancy occurs, the deputy secretary serves as acting secretary until the governor and state Senate select a permanent replacement.[1]
Duties
The secretary is the administrative head of the Delaware Department of Agriculture, which regulates and promotes Delaware agricultural produce. It inspects agricultural goods and production facilities to promote health and safety, provides marketing assistance to the state's farmers, manages state forests, regulates horse racing in the state, and sets standards for weights and measures. The department produces statistics and analysis of the state's agriculture market.[2]
Divisions
As of January 14, 2021, divisions within the Department of Agriculture included:[3]
- Aglands Preservation & Planning
- Agriculture Compliance
- Communications & Marketing
- Delaware Forest Service
- Delaware Harness Racing Commission
- Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund
- Food Products Inspection
- Nutrient Management
- Pesticides
- Plant Industries
- Poultry & Animal Health
- Thoroughbred Racing Commission
- Weights & Measures
State budget
- See also: Delaware state budget and finances
The budget for the State Department of Agriculture in the Fiscal Year 2025 was $18,480,200.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The secretary's compensation is set by law.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $135,327, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $129,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $123,333, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $123,333 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $122,333 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $119,540 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $119,540 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $119,540 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary $119,540 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2014
In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $119,040 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2013
In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $119,040 according to the Council of State Governments.
2012
In 2012, the secretary was paid an estimated $119,040 according to the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $112,660 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact
Office of the Secretary
2320 South DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
Tel: (302) 698-4500
Tel: (800) 282-8685 (Toll-Free in Delaware Only)
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Delaware Code, "29-81-8102," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Delaware Department of Agriculture, "Mission," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Delaware Department of Agriculture, "Sections & Commissions," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 325," accessed January 16, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010 -- Table 4.11," accessed August 10, 2011
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