|
|
Iowa Department of Agriculture, Iowa Corn partner to improve trIowa Cuba can become a more important market for Iowa's agricultural commodities, according to representatives of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board who traveled to Cuba with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "For the last decade, Iowa Corn and the Iowa Department of Agriculture have led a sustained effort to increase food and feed sales to Cuba," said Craig Floss, Iowa Corn's chief executive officer. "Last market year, 95 percent of Cuba's corn imports came from the U.S. That is real progress, given the legal restrictions on U.S.-Cuba trade." Cuba's corn purchases this year could be nearly 40 million bushels, but Floss is even more enthusiastic about Cuba's development as a market for distillers dried grains from Iowa's ethanol industry: "DDG was unknown in Cuba before 2004. Our work to introduce its use is paying off. Last year, the Cubans bought about 100,000 metric tons, and this year that is expected to double." Delegation members said Cuba could also become a growing market for higher value agricultural exports like milk and meat if trade restrictions were eased. Iowa Corn's Cuba effort began with a humanitarian food donation in 1998, followed by exchanges that brought key Cuban food officials to Iowa and took Iowa farmers and feed experts to Cuba. The most recent mission focused specifically on educating Cuban livestock feeders in the use of corn and DDG in dairy, swine, and poultry production. "Both the producers and government officials in Cuba, that we met with, were interested in growing the dairy industry and see distillers grains as a piece that could help them do that," Northey said. "Distillers grains make a lot of sense for Cuba and could become a good market for Iowa ethanol plants." IDALS and Iowa Corn look forward to building relationships made through the mission. Date: 10/9/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
