Steve Strenge. Following Steve will be Rich Jensen.

MR. STRENGE: Okay. Thank you, panel. I'll try and make this real brief. I'm sure everybody is getting anxious to get out of here.

I'm wearing two hats today. I'm the international sales manager for a company that manufactures meat processing equipment quite successfully. One of our founders happens to be in this building, as a matter of fact. About 65 percent of our business is exporting; about 100 percent of our business is dependent upon the producer's ability to raise meat.

The other hat that I'm wearing today is the chair -- I'm the chairperson for the Iowa Department of the Iowa District Export Council, which is part of the Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce. We've been tasked by the Department to stimulate exports for the State of Iowa. As such, the Council is keenly aware of the vital importance a strong agriculture bases for the well-being of this state and country.

The business of many, if not most, of the members of the Iowa District Export Council is ag-related. Together we generate millions of dollars in export income. We actively educate and encourage and mentor other Iowa firms to increase exports. Thousands of jobs are dependent upon Iowa's ability to competitively export our products and services.

The District Export Council urges you to leave aside the political rhetoric and demand intellectual honesty from all the other negotiators. Far too many tariff and especially nontariff barriers to trade continue to distort rational policies and adversely affect millions of people around the world.

We're not going to go -- I'm not going to go into the specific policy recommendations. You've heard many today. Rather, my point in speaking is to underscore the tremendous importance that we place upon you, our representatives, to effectively negotiate a freer and fairer trade. We need you to have the best and the brightest at the negotiating table.

Food and fiber are absolutely vital to every economy and every nation. The only real progress that is going to be made is if all the negotiators focus on global challenges of agriculture. Tomorrow's agriculture is not just about food, but it's about food produced without adversely affecting the global environment and health concerns. The future of U.S. agriculture will be largely determined by the WTO negotiator's ability to build a framework that safeguards the vitality of this nation.

Thank you.