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Missouri looks at Cuba opportunities

What will it mean to agriculture if Cuba becomes a more open market?

Some lawmakers, including Missouri Republican U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, say President Obama’s decision to move toward open trade with Cuba was a bad one.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has asked his state Department of Agriculture to look into what opportunities the normalization of trade relations with Cuba might open in his state.

Missouri Ag Director Richard Fordyce says for Missouri to explore how it can benefit is not an endorsement of Obama’s plan. But, he points out the American Farm Bureau has pushed for normalization with Cuba for a long time, “It’s because of the ability of specifically Missouri farmers and more generally U.S. farmers to have another market.” Director Fordyce says Missouri rice and perhaps oak barrels could be key products of interest in Cuba.

~Thanks to Missourinet