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11/17/09 - USAgNet - Growers Urged to Contact Lawmakers on Cuba Legislation

The National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S. Wheat Associates and other
agricultural organizations are urging growers to contact their Members of
Congress about the importance of passing legislation to ease trade
restrictions with Cuba.

Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) will be introducing
legislation with Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Agriculture Appropriations Chair
Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) to expand
agricultural trade to Cuba and are looking for original cosponsors.

Cuba relies on imports for most of its food needs and, between 2000 and
2006, The nation's food and agricultural imports nearly doubled.
Agricultural producers in the United States are well positioned to benefit
from additional trade in Cuba, but current U.S. policy hampers their ability
to supply the Cuban market.

The Peterson/Moran legislation would provide a direct payment provision for
Cuban buyers, eliminating the need to go through banks in other countries to
conduct agricultural trades. It further revises the current "payment of cash
in advance" regulation by requiring agricultural exports to Cuba meet the
same payment requirements as exports to other countries.