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Illinois Soybean Growers hopeful on Cuba trade

There’s a new president in Cuba and the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) hopes that leads to better relations with the U.S., and ultimately, soybean trade, “No one really knows exactly what the new president is going to do in Cuba, what kind of direction he’s going to take. But, we think of this as an opportunity to talk about Cuba, to talk about how important that is to Illinois soybean growers. We export soy to Cuba even though we still have the embargo,” says Mark Albertson, strategic market director for Illinois Soybean Growers. He tells Brownfield Ag News that lifting the embargo is still the goal.

Under President Trump, he says, most workers at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba have been sent home, “President Obama really made an effort to establish diplomatic relations and to move forward. Unfortunately, we have taken a step backward.”

Albertson says there is a shortage of food in Cuba and what they feed their animals is not ideal, “We’re sending soy to Cuba but it’s not enough. They’re using other things like acorns to feed their pigs and some byproducts from their sugar industry. And, there’s not enough protein.”

Albertson says it’s been difficult for Cubans to get visas to the U.S. However, a Cuban swine researcher was in Illinois a few weeks ago because he applied before the Trump restrictions were put in place. Albertson’s hopeful members of the ISG can visit Cuba again this year to promote high-quality U.S. soybeans.

AUDIO: Interview with Mark Albertson~

 

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