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U.S. farmers had high hopes for the fifth World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, in September. The conference was an important midpoint in negotiations to lower global barriers in agriculture, goods and services trade. However, the talks were unsuccessful.

In a statement, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said, "Agriculture, as you know, has been the lynchpin of these negotiations, but it was not the reason we did not reach consensus at this meeting."

OFBF President Terry McClure, OFBF Board of Trustees member Jeff Zellers and Constance Jackson, OFBF vice president of agricultural ecology, joined participants from 146 member nations at the meeting.

McClure said the talks reached some tough points. "Developing countries are concerned about our trade coming in," he said. He said he hoped Ohio farmers would care about trade issues because 30 to 40 percent of what they raise goes to export market.