USDA announces new NIFA director

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that President Trump has named Carrie Castille as the new, permanent director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Castille will start her new role on Jan. 4, according to a news release.
“Dr. Castille is a trusted leader in economic development and public policy and has more than 20 years’ experience in the agricultural sector. Her passion for agricultural research, teaching, and extension will enable NIFA to continue its transformation as a premier science agency,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a news release. “She will bring strong leadership to NIFA as they continue to build and strengthen partnerships with our public land-grant universities and agricultural institutions across the nation.”

According to the release, Castille served as assistant professor and agriculture and natural resource leader at Louisiana State University prior to serving as associate commissioner and senior advisor to the commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. In 2017, she joined USDA as state Director for Louisiana Rural Development, and in 2019 was named as the mid-south (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri) coordinator for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation mission area.