(Whereupon a short recess was held.)

MR. KELLY: Those of you who have got something you'd like to say, please move forward and we'll get started. We're fortunate to have Pat Sheikh take the place of Dr. Siddiqui. Pat is the Director of International Trade Policy for Foreign Ag. Service. We appreciate her being with us today. We'll continue now with comments in this Listening Session with whoever would like to approach the mike.

MR. JOYNER: Thank you. My name is Richard Joyner and I'm President of Farm Credit of Central Florida. I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak today and for your interest in Florida agriculture and how the future trade agreements may affect it.

Farm Credit alone has over 7,500 loans totally in excess of 1.3 billion dollars invested in Florida agriculture. This is representative of the capital investments of our producers. As a cooperative, our member/borrowers represent all segments of Florida's second largest economic force. You've already heard many of the statistics. Maintaining a healthy, viable agriculture in Florida is extremely important to the citizens of Florida and the United States.

Through our diverse agriculture we play a major role in helping Americans enjoy the safest and healthiest food supply in the world, while spending less of their available income for food than anywhere else. That means there are more dollars available for other things, thereby allowing our citizens to enjoy the high standard of living we do.

That can only continue if our farmers and ranchers are profitable. Appropriate trade negotiations are paramount to the future success of Florida agriculture. Expanding access to international markets is critical to the economic growth of agriculture. As the next Round of negotiations begin we hope the following issues will be taken into account.

Ensure that science is the only basis for resolving sanitary and phytosanitary issues. Maintain strict adherence to plant and animal pest and disease standards. Provide a clear and prompt resolution to trade disputes. Seek to improve market access provisions and safeguard measures of existing agreements. Protect measures that help equalize operational costs of U.S. producers and those of other countries that are not subject to the same stringent regulatory standards.

We support the comments you've heard today from Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida cattlemen, the Florida fruit and vegetable people, and the individual growers and producers. A strong viable agriculture is viable to our state and economy. Becoming dependent on foreign markets for food is not an alternative. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak today and for the session that has been made available for us. Thank you.

(Applause.)