Farm groups are applauding President Joe Biden's plan to nominate Iowa native Alexis Taylor, an Iowa State University graduate and Army veteran, to a top U.S. Department of Agriculture trade post.

As the undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, Taylor would help lead the agency's trade policy, overseeing and facilitating foreign market access and promoting opportunities for U.S. agriculture.

Taylor's "nomination builds upon USDA’s commitment to link U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities for American farmers and producers and increase global food security," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, said in a statement.

Taylor is currently the Oregon Department of Agriculture's executive director, a post Gov. Kate Brown appointed her to in 2016. Taylor works to promote and regulate food and farming, the White House said in a news release.

She oversees policy directives for Oregon’s 38 programs and its 500 employees, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

"We are thrilled to see an Iowa native nominated who understands the importance of trade policy and promoting agriculture, corn and biofuels in a global market," said Lance Lillibridge, a northeast Iowa farmer and president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican and the senior Senate agriculture committee member, called Taylor "talented and hardworking," and said he would support her Senate confirmation.

At the same time, Grassley urged Biden to nominate a chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative.

Earlier this year, Elaine Trevino, the former CEO of the Almond Alliance of California, withdrew her nomination for the job, saying she saw no clear path forward to gain Senate confirmation.

"The Biden administration should be doing more to develop additional market access initiatives to support farmers, grow our agricultural economy and strengthen our trade alliances around the world," Grassley said in a statement.

"This has become even more important recently, as Putin continues waging war in Ukraine, and China — our number one trade competitor — watches closely," Grassley said.

Before moving to Oregon, Taylor oversaw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services during the Obama administration, working to open new global markets and improve U.S agriculture's competitive position.

Taylor also worked for Montana and Iowa congressional members, including the late U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, an Iowa Democrat.

Taylor grew up on a farm her family has worked for more than 160 years and graduated from Iowa State University with a political science degree.

While still in high school, Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves. During her junior year in college, her army reserve unit was deployed to Iraq, where she served a tour with the 389th Combat Engineer Battalion, the White House said.

While no longer an active reservist, Taylor continues to advocate for veterans, the White House said.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Joe Biden to nominate Iowa native Alexis Taylor for top USDA trade job