By Blake Jackson
A Penn State alumnus, Jimmy Kroon, brings strong experience in geographic information systems (GIS) to agriculture leadership. His work at the Delaware Department of Agriculture has changed over time, but his focus has remained on helping people solve problems and support the farming community.
He has worked with the department for more than two decades and has taken on different roles throughout his career. He now serves in a leadership position where he helps oversee agricultural policy, boards, and programs that shape the future of agriculture. His work highlights how agriculture affects many parts of daily life beyond farming.
“Food is something everybody cares about, because everybody eats,” Kroon said. “It’s a huge part of our industry, economy and land use in Delaware.”
He started his career in 2003 as a summer employee and continued to grow within the organization. Over time, he built experience in fieldwork, GIS, and program management. This combination of skills helped him move into positions with greater responsibility.
Agriculture remains closely connected to people’s lives, both as a job and a way of living. Many farmers face economic challenges, and leaders continue working to find ways to support them.
“A lot of farm operations really struggle to be profitable,” Kroon said. “We’re trying to figure out how to help, whether through financial programs like low-interest loans or by improving agricultural markets so producers can sell their products for more. That’s really what’s needed.”
GIS plays an important role in his work. It helps combine technology with environmental data to improve decision-making. Kroon uses GIS to study crops, pests, and land use, making it easier to solve real-world problems.
“GIS is really a way to combine my interest in the natural world and computers,” Kroon said.
He believes modern GIS tools allow more people to access and use data easily. This supports better planning and stronger agricultural systems.
His work shows how combining technology and agriculture can help improve industry growth and support future success.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, General