Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins names Tom Schultz as Chief of USDA’s Forest Service

“I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities.” — Tom Schultz

Tom Schultz_photo by Christophe Paul via USDA.jpg

Tom Schultz

Photo by Christophe Paul via USDA

Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins appointed Tom Schultz as the 21st Chief of the Forest Service.

In a statement, Rollins expressed her certainty with this pick:

“Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America’s national forest.”

Schultz is taking the helm from Chief Randy Moore, who recently announced his retirement.

Schultz expressed his gratitude for the role:

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be the next Chief of the Forest Service. I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities.”

Schultz previously served as VP of Resource and Government Affairs at Idaho Forest Group. He is also a former U.S. Air Force Officer and was Director of the Idaho Department of Lands.

Related Stories
Sen. Deb Fischer, of Nebraska, mentioned that Congress pushing through year-round E15 sales will do more to help commodity growers than more farm aid, which is currently a reality.
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.
Corn and wheat exports continue to outperform last year, while soybeans show steady but subdued movement compared to 2024.
Mold damage is tightening China’s corn supplies, supporting higher prices and creating potential demand for alternative feed grains in early 2026.
The new rule removes prevented-plant buy-up coverage, prompting strong objections from farm groups concerned about added risk exposure.
Tight Credit, Strong Yields Define Early December Agriculture

Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.