The U.S. Grains Council, a leader in international export market development for U.S. corn, barley, sorghum, and their co-products, has selected Nicholson Kovac Inc. as its integrated marketing communications agency for the 2010 "Partners in Agriculture" international public relations campaign.

Nicholson Kovac will provide public relations services, including media relations and event coordination, for a series of commemorative events that will take place in Japan in 2010. These events, part of the "Partners in Agriculture" series of events, will be coordinated by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with the U.S. Grains Council and other cooperative groups as key sponsoring partners. The program celebrates the rich history of agricultural trade between the U.S. and Japan, the largest foreign market for U.S. coarse grains.

To ensure seamless coordination between the USGC headquarters in Washington, D.C., USGC employees in Japan and Tokyo-based FAS representatives, Nicholson Kovac has teamed up with the Ashai Agency, a leading integrated marketing communications agency in Japan. Both Nicholson Kovac and Asahi belong to Worldwide Partners Inc., the world's largest owner-operated agency network made up of 90 independent agencies.

"Nicholson Kovac provided us the most creative proposal for addressing the complexities of this project. We anticipate this partnership will help to enhance the effectiveness of our efforts," said Thomas C. Dorr, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council.

Nicholson Kovac President and CEO Pete Kovac said the agency is excited to expand its agricultural clientele to include such a high-profile, international industry leader. “We are honored by the U.S. Grains Council's choice and are excited to align with an organization that has such a long history of success in U.S. agribusiness," Kovac said. "U.S. agricultural products are the highest quality and most sought-after in the world. Nicholson Kovac understands the pivotal role the U.S. Grains Council plays in supporting U.S. grain producers, by helping to create global trade opportunities. By delivering relevant and strategic communications solutions, we aim to contribute strategically to the U.S. Grains Council's longstanding legacy of success."

The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum, and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from our private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities, and others, triggers federal matching funds from the USDA resulting in a combined program value of more than $26 million. For more information, visit www.grains.org.