WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has picked Indiana Agriculture Director Ted McKinney to oversee trade and foreign agriculture issues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The under secretary position is a new one, created at the direction of Congress when lawmakers last rewrote farm policy in 2014.

“For our new under secretary position emphasizing international trade, I have always said that I want someone who wakes up every morning asking how we can sell more American agricultural products in foreign markets,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. “Ted McKinney is that person. His longstanding background in agriculture, economic development, and global issues will make him an unapologetic advocate for U.S. products in the world marketplace.”

The White House announced the choice Wednesday along with a slew of other nominations that included another top USDA post.

Both McKinney and Sam Clovis of Iowa, who is slated to be in charge of research, education and economics at the USDA, served on Trump’s agriculture advisory committee during the campaign.

McKinney has headed the Indiana Department of Agriculture since being appointed to the post in 2014 by then-Gov. Mike Pence, who is now Trump’s vice president.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday that McKinney “took agriculture to the next level in Indiana with his wealth of experience and enthusiasm in all sectors of the agriculture community.”

► More:Indiana native named to rural affairs USDA post

► More:Trump directs panel to tackle voter 'fraud' during commission's first session

► CBO:Senate Republican Obamacare repeal plan would increase uninsured by 32 million in 2026

“I know he will do the same for our nation,” Holcomb said in a statement.

McKinney grew up on a family grain and livestock farm in Tipton. After receiving a degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University, McKinney joined the agricultural chemicals business of Elanco Products Company, a division of Eli Lilly and Co. McKinney was the director of global corporate affairs for Elanco before heading the Indiana Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture trade is critical to the economy, accounting for 20 percent of the value of production, according to the USDA.

“Food is a noble thing to trade,” Perdue said when announcing the new position of undersecretary for trade and foreign agriculture affairs in May. ”This nation has a great story to tell and we've got producers here that produce more than we can consume.”

The undersecretary for trade will work with the U.S. trade representative and secretary of commerce, Perdue said, to “ensure that American producers are well equipped to sell their products and feed the world.”

Contact Maureen Groppe at mgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.