Washington, D.C. Dec. 21, 2022. The American Soybean Association is elated that the Senate has, after a prolonged wait, confirmed Alexis Taylor to be USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. ASA and myriad other ag groups have pushed Senate leadership for months to prioritize confirmation of Taylor for the USDA Under Secretary position and, likewise, Doug McKalip to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Taylor is an Iowa native who has directed the Oregon Agriculture Department since 2016. She will oversee USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and trade promotion programs, both components of which are extremely important to the U.S. soy industry.

Farm organizations, in letters supporting Taylor’s confirmation, have outlined her numerous qualifications for the role, including many years working in Congress that contributed to her Obama administration appointment as USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. At USDA, she helped ensure agricultural stakeholders’ voices were at the table as the U.S. worked to open markets around the globe.

Following her nomination in May, Stephen Censky, CEO of ASA, said of Taylor, "Alexis has a depth of knowledge about agricultural trade and public policy, and her background, experience, and network will serve her well in this post. U.S. soy growers look forward to welcoming her back to USDA and working with her on issues facing soybean exports."

We are extremely hopeful President Biden’s other lingering appointee, Doug McKalip, will likewise be confirmed this week during the final lame duck hours.