Joe Biden to nominate Iowa native Alexis Taylor for top USDA trade job

Farm teams are applauding President Joe Biden’s plan to appoint Iowa native Alexis Taylor, an Iowa State College graduate and Military veteran, to a prime U.S. Division of Agriculture commerce publish.

Because the undersecretary for commerce and overseas agricultural affairs, Taylor would assist lead the company’s commerce coverage, overseeing and facilitating overseas market entry and selling alternatives for U.S. agriculture.

Taylor’s “nomination builds upon USDA’s dedication to hyperlink U.S. agriculture to the world to reinforce export alternatives for American farmers and producers and improve international meals safety,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, stated in a press release.

Taylor is at the moment the Oregon Division of Agriculture’s govt director, a publish Gov. Kate Brown appointed her to in 2016. Taylor works to advertise and regulate meals and farming, the White Home stated in a information launch.

She oversees coverage directives for Oregon’s 38 packages and its 500 staff, the U.S. Division of Agriculture stated.

“We’re thrilled to see an Iowa native nominated who understands the significance of commerce coverage and selling agriculture, corn and biofuels in a worldwide market,” stated Lance Lillibridge, a northeast Iowa farmer and president of the Iowa Corn Growers Affiliation.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican and the senior Senate agriculture committee member, referred to as Taylor “gifted and hardworking,” and stated he would assist her Senate affirmation.

On the similar time, Grassley urged Biden to appoint a chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Commerce Consultant.

Earlier this 12 months, Elaine Trevino, the previous CEO of the Almond Alliance of California, withdrew her nomination for the job, saying she noticed no clear path ahead to achieve Senate affirmation.

“The Biden administration ought to be doing extra to develop extra market entry initiatives to assist farmers, develop our agricultural economic system and strengthen our commerce alliances around the globe,” Grassley stated in a press release.

“This has change into much more essential not too long ago, as Putin continues waging struggle in Ukraine, and China — our primary commerce competitor — watches intently,” Grassley stated.

Earlier than transferring to Oregon, Taylor oversaw the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Farm and Overseas Agricultural Providers in the course of the Obama administration, working to open new international markets and enhance U.S agriculture’s aggressive place.

Taylor additionally labored for Montana and Iowa congressional members, together with the late U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, an Iowa Democrat.

Taylor grew up on a farm her household has labored for greater than 160 years and graduated from Iowa State College with a political science diploma.

Whereas nonetheless in highschool, Taylor enlisted within the U.S. Military Reserves. Throughout her junior 12 months in faculty, her military reserve unit was deployed to Iraq, the place she served a tour with the 389th Fight Engineer Battalion, the White Home stated.

Whereas not an energetic reservist, Taylor continues to advocate for veterans, the White Home stated.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the surroundings and power for the Register. Attain her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.