Fordyce to Head FSA, Starling Heads to USDA from White House

Former Missouri Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce has been tapped to lead USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue made the announcement Friday that Fordyce is his designee to be administrator of the agency which oversees more than 2,100 county and state offices. Most recently, Fordyce served as State Executive Director for FSA in Missouri. Meanwhile, Ray Starling will be moving from the White House staff to USDA. Agri-Pulse reports Starling, currently the White House special advisor on agriculture, will cross town to serve as USDA chief of staff starting June 1. Starling will replace Heidi Green who is returning to her home in Georgia. Prior to joining the National Economic Council, Starling was chief of staff for Sen. Tom Tillis (R-NC).