Even as it struggles through the domestic market disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa agriculture must continue to foc­­us on building export demand for the state’s crops and livestock products, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig and two Iowa State University (ISU) economists said recently.

“Trade really matters a lot to a state like Iowa,” Naig said during a July 1 global trade webinar sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “It’s been a rocky road lately, but the strong fundamentals on ag exports still remain the same, and Iowa is well positioned to take advantage of...