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Fordyce on second trade mission this month

Missouri Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce is on his second overseas trade mission this month.  The current mission, in Italy, Germany and Spain through the rest of this week, closely follows one to Cuba to further the sale of Missouri agricultural products.  Fordyce says, however, that full trade with Cuba will have to wait until decisions are made by a higher government body.

“There are some that Congress will have to do to remove the embargo or relax the embargo, however they may ultimately choose to go,” Fordyce told Brownfield Ag News, “but again, we’re continuing to come at it from the perspective of we want to talk about agriculture trade and how that agriculture trade can benefit both Cuba and the U.S., and specifically Missouri.”

Although there are no solid plans for a return trip to Cuba at the moment, Fordyce says it’s likely that more missions to Cuba will be made.

“I feel very strongly that we’ll have additional folks from Missouri agriculture going that direction,” said Fordyce, “and then we’ve got to figure out a way to get some of the key people from Cuba here in Missouri.”

The Missouri Governor’s office says Missouri export sales exceeded $14 billion in 2014, the second highest year on record and 9 percent over 2013.

AUDIO: Richard Fordyce (1 min. MP3)