Ag leaders are putting support behind Ag Sec. nominee Brooke Rollins

A member of President Trump’s circle is weighing in on Brooke Rollins’ nomination.

Ray Starling served as Chief of Staff for Sonny Perdue and was an ag advisor during Trump’s first term.

He has nothing but support for Rollins and says her relationship with Trump will be a tremendous asset.

“Part of being the Secretary of Agriculture or of being any cabinet secretary is knowing how to navigate the relationships with other secretaries, and most importantly, the relationship with the President. Brooke has that she has been a part of the policy apparatus the America First policy institute has been its leader. So it tells you she’s got these management skills, she’s got this policy capability. But most importantly, she’s got the relationships so that if the ag community needs the president’s ear, Brooks going to be able to deliver on that.”

Other nominees are also waiting for their time before committees, and that includes Robert F Kennedy Jr., who Trump tapped to run Health and Human Services. Starling says Rollins will help him guide policy.

Related Stories
Sen. Moran joins us to discuss the farm aid package and the financial reality faced by row crop farmers in his home state of Kansas.
Tariff relief and new trade agreements may temper food costs by reducing import costs.
The new rule removes prevented-plant buy-up coverage, prompting strong objections from farm groups concerned about added risk exposure.
Lawmakers and experts react to the Administration’s long-awaited announcement of “bridge” aid to stabilize farms and offset 2025 losses until expanded safety-net programs begin in 2026.
Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official press release published on Monday, December 8, 2025.
Lewie Pugh with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) discusses the gap in truck driver education programs and how it impacts road safety and supply chain economics.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
Alex Templeton works alongside her dad, sharing her life through social media and her blog Ag Talk with Alex.
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.