We still have a world market in agriculture that is closed to our exports by significant market barriers, subsidies and other government interventions. Recognizing that not enough was done in agriculture at the Uruguay Round, WTO member countries agreed to revisit the issue of market liberalization in this sector by a date certain. With these negotiations soon upon us, we must ensure that our trade negotiators at USTR and USDA are in a position to achieve significant opening of foreign markets to our farm products. We cannot let this opportunity pass us by. Increased market opportunities in agricultural trade are of tremendous importance to American farmers and to our economy.
Agriculture is also vital to the Delaware economy.
Poultry plays a central role in this. Approximately 65 percent of Delaware's cash farm income in 1998 was from broilers. And of course, Sussex County alone is ranked among the top counties in the country in chicken production. Agricultural trade is also important to our port in Wilmington, which is a significant transit point for farm products. This will ensure that other countries can afford to buy our farm products.