The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) will celebrate its 65th anniversary in July, and the organization will commemorate its rich history all year long with special stories and images shared in its newsletter, Global Update, and on its social media pages.
Below is a selection of images from the early days of the Council, and although some details about the photos may be lost to history, they serve as an example of the Council’s longstanding dedication to developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives.
Working with U.S. producers and farmer organizations has always been an integral part of the Council’s mission. Pictured, the Council was represented at a trade conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1964.
This photo of the Council’s exhibit at a convention in Germany in 1974 also lists the Council’s various global offices at the time. Today, the Council maintains offices in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, South Korea, Taiwan and Tunisia in addition to its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Council was primarily focused on European markets during the first few decades of its existence, as shown in this photo of the Council’s booth at the 1977 Paris International Agricultural Fair.
Pictured in Bucharest, Romania in 1978, former USFGC European Director Dr. Halvor Kolshus signs a cooperative agreement between the Council and the Romanian government asserting that the Council will provide technical assistance to the country’s livestock and feed industries.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.