In announcing leadership for Department of Agriculture agencies last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue also announced the movement of Ray Starling from the White House to USDA. Agri-Pulse reports that Starling, who has served as a special assistant to the president for agriculture, will now serve as Secretary Perdue’s chief of staff. Starling will replace Heidi Green who is returning home to Georgia. Before joining the White House, Starling served as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina. The news came the same day that Secretary Perdue announced new leadership for the Farm Service Agency and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Former Missouri Agriculture Director and state FSA Director Richard Fordyce was appointed to the lead the Farm Service Agency, while Carmen Rottenberg was appointed to lead the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
