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Brazil is quickly becoming a tough competitor in the world of agriculture. "Our ag sector is as large as it is in the United States as far as diversification and population. We’re working toward expanding our production without expanding the agricultural area," Rubens Antonio Barbosa, Brazilian ambassador, told OFBF county presidents during their annual trip to Washington, D.C. "However, there are 90 million hectares (222.3 million acres) that can still be developed. If that occurs, Brazil will be the Taliban of the agricultural world."

Brazilian producers are modernizing their operations. They are using irrigation for the first time and updating their rail and waterway systems. With irrigation, Brazil is able to have two harvests with many of its crops in the northeast portion of the country. Brazil is a large producer of beef, poultry, soybeans, sugar and coffee. Barbosa said Brazilian farmers face many of the same weather challenges as American farmers.

As large as Brazil is in the agricultural world, there is not enough money to subsidize its farmers. Clark County Farm Bureau President Kirsten Kimley told the ambassador that Brazilian should count their blessings. And while it’s nice that America can support its farmers, American farmers would much rather earn more money for their commodities and not be supported by the government.

Foreign trade is becoming very important to developing countries like Brazil. The leaders of their country wants free trade with the United States, and Barbosa said without free trade, there will be no trade between the two countries.

"We can only do this if we work together – if we have free trade – if we have fair trade," Barbosa said.

Barbosa said he realizes ethanol has become an important topic for American farmers. Brazil is the largest producer of ethanol and would like to export it to America.

"From 1986 to the present, ethanol has not been exported to the U.S. This is a big opportunity for (American farmers) and for (Brazil) trying to open the market to the world," Barbosa said. "We don’t want to flood the market; we want to share with many U.S. companies.

The price of land was another big issue that concerns Ohio farmers. Current land value in Brazil is between $60 and $70 an acre.

"Many American farmers are going into Brazil and buying land. It is very cheap. There is a big frontier to be developed with comparatively no cost of land," Barbosa said.