U.S. exports of milk, cheese and other dairy products have risen sharply the past 15 years and now absorb approximately 15 percent of the country’s production. But American dairy farmers and others in the industry see plenty of potential for increased exports and are taking the steps to grow their international markets, said Tom Vilsack, the former U.S. agriculture secretary who is now the CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

Because of the steady gains in dairy productivity, it’s crucial to build markets, Vilsack said during the keynote speech last week at a conference on ag exports held by the...