Iowa crop and livestock farmers, along with state lawmakers, applauded last week’s signing of a long-awaited trade deal between the United States and Japan, which is expected to spur increased exports of the state’s pork, beef and corn.

“This deal is a major win for Iowa’s pork and cattle producers as Japan represents the largest value importer of U.S beef and pork, and the second largest value importer of U.S. corn,” said Craig Hill, a Warren County crop and livestock farmer who is president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). “The agreement levels the playing...