Delaware Department of Agriculture

What Delaware Department of Agriculture does

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is a state government agency headquartered in Dover, Delaware, responsible for regulating and supporting Delaware's agricultural sector. Established in 1911 within a state government that traces to 1776, the agency operates with 51–100 employees across ten divisions, including Forest Service, Plant Industries, Pesticide Management, Thoroughbred Racing Commission, Harness Racing Commission, Food Products Inspection, Weights & Measures, Poultry and Animal Health, Nutrient Management, and Agricultural Lands Preservation. Its mission spans regulatory enforcement, food and animal safety, conservation, and industry support.

The DDA administers a broad portfolio of regulatory and service programs. It registers pesticides (charging $140 per registration across 10,000+ products), oversees hemp cultivation and processing under a USDA-approved state plan, monitors groundwater through 1,000+ samples across 220+ wells since 1995, manages invasive species (spotted lanternfly quarantine, box tree moth compliance), inspects food products, licenses Thoroughbred and Harness Racing participants, and stewards the Agricultural Lands Preservation program. The agency has implemented a Salesforce-based online services platform to digitize licensing, registration, and reporting across these functions. Notable technical components include long-running environmental monitoring datasets, digital licensing infrastructure, and interagency coordination frameworks with USDA.

The agency's business model is that of a state government entity funded through legislative appropriations, supplemented by user fees. Revenue mechanics include per-product pesticide registration fees, hemp cultivation and processing licenses, racing licenses and commissions, food inspection fees, and various service charges. Its customer base is structurally diverse — farmers, pesticide applicators and registrants, hemp growers and processors, food processors and retailers, Thoroughbred and Harness Racing operators, beekeepers, animal owners, and the general public benefitting from food safety, conservation, and land preservation programs.

Name

Delaware Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Delaware Department of Agriculture

Website

https://agriculture.delaware.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1776

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is a state regulatory agency headquartered in Dover, Delaware, with 51–100 employees, that oversees pesticide management, plant and animal health, food inspection, racing commissions, nutrient management, and agricultural land preservation across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Agricultural Regulation

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pesticide & Agricultural Chemical Health Regulators (HLAJAFAG), Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Audit Readiness (Food Safety, Environmental, Labor) (AFACAJAE), Conservation Agriculture (Erosion Control, Contour/Strip Cropping, Mulching) (AFAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural regulation
• Pesticide licensing
• Forest conservation
• Horse racing oversight
• Food safety inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

Dover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: State agency funded through Delaware state government budget appropriations for regulatory, agricultural, and forestry services.
2. Pesticide Product Registration Fees: Biennial fee of $140 for each brand or grade of pesticide registered for sale and distribution in Delaware. The section currently registers over 10,000 pesticide products.
3. Pesticide Business License Fees: Annual pesticide business license required for applying pesticides to property of another for compensation, with late penalties of 20% for renewals received after January 1.
4. Pesticide Dealer Permit Fees: Permit required for each location selling Restricted Use Pesticides, valid through December 31st of each year.
5. Pesticide Applicator Certification Fees: Certification exams administered every 45 days for private and commercial applicators. Reciprocal certification available for certified commercial applicators from other states.
6. Hemp Program Fees: Producer license application fee of $300 (renewed every 3 years); growing site registration fee of $500 annually; processor registration $300 plus $1,000 annual facility fee; handler license $100.
7. Hemp Regulatory Sampling Fees: Regulatory sample collection and testing fee of up to $350 per sample for THC testing compliance.
8. Registered Employee Fees: Fees for registering employees who handle pesticides with photograph identification cards required.
9. Online Payment Processing: Credit card payments accepted through secure online portal for services, registrations, and licenses.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is a state government agency that regulates agriculture, food safety, pesticides, plant industries, forestry, weights and measures, and horse racing in Delaware. It delivers this mandate through licensing of farms, pesticide applicators, hemp producers, and racing participants; inspection of food products, plants, and weighing devices; conservation and land preservation programs; and consumer-protection/consumer-information services such as Buy Local Delaware. Its operational scope spans Ag Compliance, Aglands Preservation, Forest Service, Harness Racing Commission, Thoroughbred Racing Commission, Food Products Inspection, Pesticide Management, Plant Industries, Weights & Measures, and Nutrient Management.

Product overview

The Delaware Department of Agriculture operates as a state government agency offering a diverse portfolio of regulatory, service, and conservation programs organized into multiple divisions. The core divisions include Forest Service (state forest management, fire programs, urban forestry), Plant Industries (pest control, hemp program, nursery inspection, seed services), Pesticide Management (applicator certification, product registration, DriftWatch), Food Products Inspection, Weights & Measures, Poultry & Animal Health, and Nutrient Management. Horse racing regulation is handled through two separate commissions: Thoroughbred Racing Commission and Harness Racing Commission. Additional programs include Agricultural Lands Preservation, Pollinator Protection, Groundwater Monitoring, and the Environmental Sweep Program. The department provides online services through a Salesforce-based portal for pesticide management and uses Avenza Maps for forest service mapping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delaware Forest Service: Division of the Delaware Department of Agriculture dedicated to conserving, protecting, and enhancing forest resources through education, management, demonstration, promotion, and technical services.

Products and services

• Delaware Forest Service State forestry program providing wildfire protection, reforestation, forest management, and forestry outreach to forest landowners and the public in Delaware.
• Pesticide Management Section services Licensing, inspection, and environmental monitoring for Delaware pesticide users, including Groundwater Monitoring and Environmental Sweep Program.
• Plant Industries Section services Plant protection services including nursery inspection, phytosanitary certification, and apiary program serving Delaware growers and producers.
• Thoroughbred Racing Commission services Licensing and regulation of Thoroughbred racing participants, stewards' oversight, and veterinary regulation of Thoroughbred racing in Delaware.
• Harness Racing Commission services Licensing and regulation of Harness racing participants and oversight of Harness racing in Delaware.
• Food Products Inspection Food safety inspections, sanitation audits, and related consumer protection services for Delaware food producers, processors, and retailers.
• Weights & Measures services Inspection and certification of weighing and measuring devices used in commerce in Delaware to ensure accuracy and consumer protection.
• Agricultural Lands Preservation Program Land preservation program that compensates landowners through fee simple and agricultural conservation easement purchases to permanently preserve working farmland in Delaware.
• Delaware Domestic Hemp Production Program State administration of the federal/state hemp production program, including licensing of hemp growers and regulation of hemp cultivation in Delaware.
• Nutrient Management Program Review, certification, and advisory services for nutrient management plans used by Delaware farmers to protect water quality.
• Buy Local Delaware Guide Online guide to Delaware farmers and farm products, supporting consumer discovery of local agriculture and farmer-to-consumer marketing.
• Delaware Managed Pollinator Protection Plan Voluntary program to reduce pesticide exposure to pollinators and protect bee health in Delaware through coordinated stakeholder practices.
• Poultry & Animal Health services Services addressing poultry and animal health, including disease response, surveillance, and animal welfare oversight in Delaware.
• DriftWatch / BeeCheck registry Voluntary field registry for Delaware beekeepers and sensitive-crop growers to alert pesticide applicators to the locations of specialty crops and apiaries.
• Groundwater Monitoring Program State groundwater sampling and testing program to detect pesticide residues and protect drinking water in Delaware.
• Environmental Sweep Program Survey program for abandoned or unregistered pesticide products historically stored in Delaware, supporting safe disposal and environmental remediation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 pesticide products registered and regulated
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Agricultural Marketing ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2020USDA approved Delaware's State Plan for Domestic Hemp Production Program on January 27, 2020, allowing Delaware to assume primary regulatory responsibility for hemp production within its jurisdiction.
• Agriculture Container Recycle Council (ACRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Partnership since 1993 for pesticide container recycling program. On average, Delaware recycled 40,000 pounds of plastic annually through this partnership. The program was discontinued in 2024 due to container rejection issues after ACRC changed contractors in 2021.
• Ag Plastic SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent vendor for pesticide container recycling pickup arrangements. Contact: Justin Geisinger, 717-658-9660. Replaced ACRC contractor after program discontinuation.
• Delaware Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for pesticide applicator training and certification. Offers pesticide recertification courses annually during Ag Week at Delaware State Fairgrounds. Provides Ornamental and Turf training through Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association.
• Delaware Solid Waste AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferred residents to DSWA disposal programs (dswa.com) for pesticide and hazardous waste disposal when ESP program does not apply.
• FieldWatch Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationDriftWatch program operated through FieldWatch providing online registry for pesticide-sensitive crops and beehives. Free for both growers and applicators to protect sensitive areas from pesticide drift.
• Xerces SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPollinator conservation resources and education. Provides Pollinator Conservation in Agriculture materials, Farm Management for Native Bees guide, and Mid-Atlantic Pollinator Plants guide.
• USDA NRCScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation practices for pollinator protection including Hedge Row Planting Code 422, Conservation Cover Code 327, and Field Border Code 386 for Delaware farmers.
• North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBee Kill Investigation program and Varroa mite management resources for beekeepers referenced in Delaware Pollinator Protection Plan.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA established U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program on October 31, 2019. EPA publishes final rule effective March 22, 2021 for domestic hemp production program regulations that Delaware must comply with.
• FBI Criminal Background CheckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRequired for hemp producer applicants. FBI Criminal History Report dated within 4 months of application required for participation in Delaware Domestic Hemp Production Program.
• USDA Farm Service AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed hemp producers must file annual acreage report with FSA within 15 days of hemp planting completion, following Department lot identification guidelines.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funding for emerald ash borer monitoring and forest pest outreach efforts. Estimated $10.7 billion national cost of EAB infestation per Forest Service study.
• USDA APHIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program and federal regulatory oversight for box tree moth quarantine compliance and other invasive species management.
• United States Trotting AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSTA Integrity Hotline (800-887-USTA) for harness racing integrity issues and complaints.
• National Racing CompactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline application system for multi-state racing licenses through racinglicense.com for Delaware harness racing commission licensing.
• Delaware Standardbred Owners AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization representing standardbred horse owners in Delaware harness racing.
• Delaware Standardbred Breeders' FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program supporting Delaware standardbred horse breeding for harness racing industry.
• Delaware Employment LinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState job portal (statejobs.delaware.gov) for employment opportunities at Delaware Department of Agriculture.
• Delaware Council on Gambling ProblemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfidential assistance for gamblers and families through HELPLINE 888-850-8888, referenced for both Thoroughbred and Harness Racing Commission public information.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• FieldWatch, Inc. Private technology vendor that operates the DriftWatch registry used by DDA to protect pesticide-sensitive crops and beehives; an enabling technology partner rather than a competing regulator.

Broad incumbents

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Federal counterpart that delegates and oversees much of DDA's regulatory authority (hemp plan approval, APHIS pest surveys, NRCS pollinator practices) and is a co-funder; broader scope but the highest-level incumbent in the same regulatory space.
• USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): Federal agency that runs the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey and federal plant pest quarantines (e.g., box tree moth) that DDA implements at the state level — same domain but federal scope and broader enforcement authority.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Pesticide Programs: Federal pesticide regulator whose tolerances, registrations, and Section 18 emergency exemptions set the framework Delaware administers at state level; broader geographic scope but directly upstream of DDA's pesticide regulatory authority.

Direct peers

• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Regional state agriculture agency with overlapping scope across pesticide regulation, plant and consumer services, weights and measures, and animal health; closely parallels DDA's divisional structure and fee-funded regulatory mandate.
• New Jersey Department of Agriculture: Mid-Atlantic state department of agriculture administering pesticide control, plant industries, animal health, food safety, and farmland preservation — a direct functional peer to DDA with similar Mid-Atlantic regulatory environment and customer base.
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: Pennsylvania's state agriculture department performs the same pesticide registration, hemp licensing, plant industry, and animal health functions as DDA, including the original spotted lanternfly quarantine that Delaware also established after PA detection. Most directly comparable peer by mission and program mix.
• Maryland Department of Agriculture: Neighboring state agriculture department with comparable scope (pesticide regulation, plant industries, animal health, food inspection, horse racing) and identical statutory role as Delaware's state regulator of agriculture, providing a directly analogous operational benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AgricultureDE
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgricultureDE
• Instagraminstagram.com/agriculturede
• Pinterestpinterest.com/agriculturede
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/department-of-agriculture-delaware

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delaware Department of Agriculture