Brad McKinney is an advisor on the firm's health and biosciences team, where he specializes in food and agricultural policy and regulation and works on related trade, immigration, nutrition, inspections and labeling issues. Brad advises food, agriculture and life science companies on federal legislation and policies that affect their businesses, including the Farm Bill and the Food Safety Modernization Act, and advocates for their interests before the White House, Congress and federal government agencies. Additionally, he serves on the steering committee for the firm's national food and agriculture industry team, a team which consists of more than 150 lawyers and consultants.
Prior to joining FaegreBD Consulting, Brad was a legislative and regulatory affairs specialist at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) where he was an advocate for commissioners, directors and secretaries of agriculture nationwide. He also managed an extensive portfolio of issues ranging from the farm safety net — including risk management and financial security issues — to energy, transportation, nutrition, dairy and general Farm Bill issues.
Brad's public sector work before NASDA included serving as a coalitions director on the 2010 gubernatorial campaign of former Oregon Republican Party Chairman Allen Alley during a competitive primary. Between 2004 and 2010, Brad served on the staff of Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana as an intern, staff assistant and then nearly three years as the senator's scheduler.
Hill Experience
- Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Firm and Civic Leadership
- Faegre Baker Daniels Food & Agriculture Industry Team Steering Committee
- Indiana Forum Steering Committee
- Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
- Indiana Society of Washington, D.C.
- International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) – International Trade Committee
- FDA on Animal Antibiotics: "Promote Health, Not Growth"
Pork Magazine, January/February 2014
- Familiar Feeling of Well-Guarded Optimism With Farm Bill Prospects
Feed & Grain, January 3, 2014
- Trade Partners, Industry Not Warm to COOL
Co-author with Todd Langel, Feed & Grain, October 30, 2013
- U.S. Food Industry Stung by Government Shutdown and Farm Bill Expiration
Food.Bev.com, October 24, 2013
- Effects of Government Shutdown and Farm Bill Expiration on Food and Agriculture Industry
Ag Professional Magazine, October 7, 2013
- Harvest or Fallow Time for Farm Bill Reauthorization
Co-author with Todd Langel, Feed & Grain, May 14, 2013
- Handicapping the "GMO" Food Labeling Movement
Food Chemical News, February 8, 2013
- Down on the Farm Bill: A Drought-Like Outlook
Law360, September 13, 2012