With a vote in Congress expected soon, the Missouri Corn Growers Association announced last week its support of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's mark up of H.R. 4645, The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act. This legislation would level the playing field for American farmers and increase agricultural exports from the United States to Cuba.">With a vote in Congress expected soon, the Missouri Corn Growers Association announced last week its support of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's mark up of H.R. 4645, The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act. This legislation would level the playing field for American farmers and increase agricultural exports from the United States to Cuba.">

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Corn Growers Support Cuba Trade Legislation

With a vote in Congress expected soon, the Missouri Corn Growers Association announced last week its support of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's mark up of H.R. 4645, The Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act. This legislation would level the playing field for American farmers and increase agricultural exports from the United States to Cuba.

"This bill would allow more competitive one-way agricultural exports to Cuba by clarifying how U.S. farmers and agricultural businesses conduct sales with that country and importantly, allow American citizens to travel to Cuba," MCGA President Keith Witt wrote in a recent letter urging Missouri's Congressional delegation to support the federal legislation.

During the 2008-2009 market years, Cuba was the United States' 10th largest export market for corn. H.R. 4645 would allow American farmers to preserve their competitiveness in this growing market through the elimination of the "cash in advance" and "third party banking" provisions.

"Cuba is currently an important market for U.S. corn," noted Witt, a grain farmer from Warrenton. "Last year Missouri produced 446.7 million bushels of corn, making it the 10th largest corn-producing state in the nation. As corn yields grow thanks to continual advances in farmer productivity and biotechnology, we need to preserve our competitiveness in this market through H.R. 4645's provisions."

The legislation would also allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. The current travel embargo works against U.S. farmers and ranchers. If the travel ban is lifted, it will allow for exports of value-added corn products such as beef,chicken and dried distillers grains to increase significantly.

"After implementation of the agricultural and travel provisions of H.R. 4645, we estimate poultry exports to Cuba could double over its current level," Witt concluded in his letter. "Expected increases in pork exports to Cuba would help Missouri producers continue to emerge from challenging economic conditions." More open agricultural trade to Cuba would also positively impact corn growers.

H.R. 4645 passed out of the House Agriculture Committee with a favorable recommendation of adoption by the full House of Representatives in June. MCGA and its affiliate, the National Corn Growers Association, fully support passage of this legislation without amendment to increase demand and expand export opportunities for U.S. corn growers.FYI. MISSOURI RURALIST

To learn more, visit www.mocorn.org.

Source: Missouri Corn Growers Association

Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/118261

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