The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) welcomed Michael Dwyer this week as the organization’s new chief economist at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

As chief economist, Dwyer will provide regular reports and analysis of developments in global supply and demand for coarse grains and products; help staff and members stay abreast of developments in the global market; and develop and maintain information on changing market conditions that will benefit the Council’s overseas contacts.

Dwyer’s position is newly created in an effort to expand the Council’s strategic thinking about the global marketplace.

“Mike has 35 years of experience with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service as a well-respected senior economist, who is also the top analytic mind on the development of the global biofuels industry,� said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight.

“His knowledge about the global food, feed, fiber and biofuel markets, the policies that affect them and the decision-makers that influence the industry’s growth will be an invaluable addition to the Council’s team.�

Prior to the Council, Dwyer worked for USDA’s FAS as the director of global policy analysis, responsible for conducting and coordinating analyses on a wide variety of strategic issues that affected U.S. and world agricultural trade, including those that affected the emerging global biofuels market.

Dwyer holds a bachelor’s degree from Mary Washington College in international affairs and a master’s degree in agricultural economics with a specialization in international trade/marketing and econometrics from The Ohio State University.

He is reachable at mdwyer@grains.org and 202-789-0789.