WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iowa native Alexis Taylor was confirmed last month as the new USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs in a voice vote before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.

For the past two years, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the U.S. Agriculture Committee, said he had been urging the Biden administration to place more of a focus on trade issues to provide certainty and expand markets for farmers and producers.

“Alexis’s confirmation is certainly a step in the right direction, and it will be helpful to have a strong voice at the USDA advocating for Iowa farmers who could be devastated by Mexico’s move to ban genetically-modified corn,” he said. “I look forward to working with her on this and other important trade issues facing U.S. agriculture.”

Taylor grew up on her family’s 160-year old farm in Holy Cross, Iowa, and is a graduate of Iowa State University, as well as a U.S. Army veteran.

“I learned many things growing up on my family’s farm in Iowa,” she told the committee. “From the hard work and long hours our farmers and ranchers put into raising a crop or keeping livestock healthy, to the challenges that unpredictable weather and volatile markets can bring.”

She said one of the most important things that was instilled in her as a child was a desire to serve a greater good, and to give back to her community.

“That desire to serve led me to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserves when I was still a junior in high school, drove me through eight years of military service, including a deployment to Iraq, and drew me to my career in public service, working to advance the interests of U.S. agriculture,” she said.

Since leaving Iowa, Taylor has held positions focused on agriculture with members of Congress in the USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to open markets, and promote exports – most recently as the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which she had held since 2016. She also served on the 2020-2021 National Association of State Directors of Agriculture Board of Directors.

Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture, who was the last USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs, said, “Alexis’ work as Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs is needed now more than ever as increasing trade is an important element to alleviating supply chain challenges and curbing inflation. We know her efforts are sure to have a meaningful impact on consumers and families nationwide.”

Denny Friest, Iowa Corn Growers Association president, said, “We are thrilled to see an Iowa native in this position who understands the importance of trade policy and promoting agriculture, corn, and biofuels in a global market. We look forward to the opportunity to work with Taylor in her new role.”

U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), said, “I am confident she will work to increase export market access for our farmers and ranchers, while working to ensure our international partners abide by the spirit of our existing trade agreements.”

Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation president and CEO, said she will be “a tremendous asset to the USDA, and a champion for U.S. agriculture. The U.S. Meat Export Federation had many opportunities to work with Ms. Taylor in her previous roles at the USDA, and she brings an exceptionally strong background and track record to this key position.”

Julie Anna Potts, North American Meat Institute president and CEO, said, “She is the right person at the right time to lead the nation’s focus on strengthening exports, expanding access to new markets, and navigating an increasingly unpredictable global economy. We look forward to working with her especially as meat and poultry products are seeing record demand at home and abroad.”

Taylor told the committee, “Agriculture is not just what I do, but very much who I am. Working to support farmers and ranchers across the country is something I have dedicated my career to.

“While working on Capitol Hill for an Iowa congressman and then a senator who served on this committee, at the USDA previously or (recently) with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, some of my most meaningful work has been finding solutions to the complex challenges farmers and ranchers face,” she said.

“Throughout my career, farmers and ranchers have shared those challenges with me from the cab of their pickup on a ranch tour in Montana, while walking a wheat field in northeastern Oregon, or riding in a combine during harvest in Iowa,” she added. “I will carry their stories with me as I work to advance agriculture across the globe.”