Phil, I just used the Ukraine as an example since I was just there a couple weeks ago. I have seen ag potential in Slovakia and Hungary on trips a few years ago.

The thing we miss however, is that even after the infrastructure gets up to speed in many of these countries, the next thing that is going to hold them back is lack of the rule of law.

Rule of law is not as visible from the road but is just as important, long term, as infrastructure.

In the Ukraine for example, as it was explained to me, when the old collective farms were disbanded in the early 1990's, the land was "distributed" to the folks that worked in the collective.  Except your 10 ha, or whatever area it was, is somewhere out in the middle of that huge field over there. And you can't do anything with it except you are required to "rent" it out to a certain large organization....

The idea of surveying, purchasing and owning land and land rights as we know it in this country does not exist in many countries of the world. Your farm can "disappear" very quickly...

I think this will eventually and likely be their next limitation in agricultural production.

Jim at Dawn