Iowa native Alexis Taylor crisscrossed the globe over the past 12 months, leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to expand market opportunities for American farmers.

Taylor led her first trade mission to Panama last March, less than four months after being confirmed as undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the USDA, and guided four more trade missions before the end of the year. The USDA is ramping up efforts this year with seven trade missions on the calendar, Taylor said during a workshop on trade at the American Farm Bureau annual convention. last month.

“Trade missions and trade shows open doors and deliver results for U.S. exporters, giving them the opportunity to work...