Brandt Joins Council As Trade Policy Director

Andrew Brandt joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) on Wednesday, April 28, as the director of trade policy in the Council’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In this capacity, Brandt will work with U.S. and foreign government officials as well as members and coalition partners to address policy issues related to the export of U.S. feed grains and their co-products.

“We are very happy to have Andrew joining our Washington staff and are excited about the perspectives he can bring to our work, having worked on the Hill and as a co-owner of his family farm in Missouri,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO. “His broad experience in the international trade policy arena will not only serve him well but will be welcomed as the Council continues its trade mission globally.”

Prior to the Council, Brandt worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he served as an international trade policy advisor, counseling the Committee on international trade policy related to agriculture, biotech, energy and other matters.

Brandt also previously served as legislative assistant to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), offering guidance on agriculture, biotech, international trade, banking and environmental policy.

Before working in the Senate, Brandt worked as legislative director for U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), as press assistant for U.S. Representative Jim Talent (R-Missouri) and in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (USDA’s RMA), where he advised staff on federal crop insurance program policy and worked to help implement provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Brandt holds a master’s of business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s of science degree in agribusiness management from the University of Missouri.

Brandt replaces Floyd Gaibler, USGC’s longtime trade policy director, who passed away in January.

Please join the Council in welcoming Andrew!