The president announced his pick for two under secretary positions
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
President Joe Biden has put two names forward as nominations to fill positions within the United States Department of Agriculture.
For the first position, under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, which helps U.S. ag access new opportunities with trading partners, the president has nominated Alexis Taylor.
Taylor grew up on her family’s farm in Iowa and currently leads the Oregon Department of Agriculture, a position she’s held since 2016.
Alexis Taylor
She previously oversaw the USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and is a veteran of the U.S. Army, completing one tour in Iraq with the 389th Combat Engineer Battalion.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack supports the nomination.
“I am confident Alexis is the right person to lead as we continue to address global food security, promote American exports across the globe and strengthen trade relationships with our global partners,” he said in a May 13 statement.
Ag groups support Taylor’s nomination as well.
Given her farm upbringing in Iowa, she makes a good candidate to promote U.S. corn and biofuels on the world’s stage, said Lance Lillibridge, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
“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,” he said in a statement. We look forward to the opportunity to work with Alexis in her new role.”
President Biden also submitted a name to be the under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services within the USDA.
For this position, which is responsible for administering the USDA’s food security programs and promoting dietary guidelines, President Biden has tapped Stacy Dean.
Stacy Dean
She’s currently the deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.
“Stacy has an incredible depth of knowledge and experience in the field of food and nutrition, and I am thrilled at the prospect of her continuing to shape the nation's food and nutrition policy…,” Vilsack said in a statement.
Both nominees require Senate confirmation.