MR. PYATT: Good afternoon. I'm Charles Pyatt. I'm a member of the National Board of Corn Growers Association representing several thousand corn producers in about 24 states, I think we have members now, and I want to thank you for the opportunity to make our presentation here today.

We understand the desire of all countries of the world to be self-sufficient in food production, and that they will do everything they can to protect their ag producers, as they should. We also understand the influence of the international banking community in protecting markets for third-world countries whose agriculture they finance. We believe American producers deserve equal recognition and representation.

We are not opposed to the use of GMOs in production agriculture; however, if they are to be a stumbling block in the negotiations, let me assure you that we uphold our members, and they're perfectly willing to grow the commodity that the producer wants and -- or the consumer wants, excuse me, so that we have grain available right now, GMO-free, and our producers are perfectly willing to produce for the market, whatever that market is.

Also I think we need to consider the consequences of current policy. Soil erosion in northeast Iowa this year is the worst in my memory, and I've been a farmer over 50 years. Our domestic farm program has failed. Please help us stop the abuse of one of America's greatest natural resources: Our soil. Stop asking farmers to produce for a nonexistent market. Help us develop an expanded CRP with a short-term soil restoration program and encourage other nations to take similar steps.

Exporting ag commodities below the cost of production is simply stealing from future generations. Future generations are dependent on protective measures that we take now.

And listening to the other farmers here this morning testifying kind of reminds me of a little poem about the little bird whose job was to wake up the emperor each morning. The emperor didn't always appreciate that little bird singing his song, but -- so he wrote a little poem, and it went like this: "The sun was shining brightly and I could scarcely wait to ponder out my window and gaze at my estate. A breeze was blowing gently that made the flowers sway, and everything was beautiful on this enchanted day. My eyes fell upon the little bird with a pretty yellow bill. I begged of him to come and sit upon my sill. And I smiled at him sweetly and gave him a crust of bread. Then I reached out, slammed the window and I crushed his little head."