Cuban sanctions

Through the ages, American farmers have either been blessed with or cursed by two characteristics that they all seem to possess: optimism and determination. Sometimes these characteristics have caused more problems than they have solved but, for the most part, they have been the corner stone of the success of the American farmer.

Once again, we farmers may be tested. At the present, our economic environment for the most part is better than our urban brothers, but things are beginning to change. Once again, we as farmers need to get out in front of this change and try to head off the negatives that might be heading our way.

Often times in the past, we farmers have solved problems individually and when we needed help solving something we have banded together to accomplish the desired solution. From this banding together came the formation of our various grain associations and commissions. These organizations are currently the avenues we use to affect change.

I am a member of several grain and farm organizations and I implore farmers to once again join together through these organizations to help protect our farm future. While bailouts continue in Washington, we here in farm country know two things. One is that simple bailouts probably won't have a lasting effect; therefore, we don't want them for our industry and, two, the best way out of a recession is trade.

If people don't have money to buy your product and you don't have the money for their product, you have to trade with them. We should not wait for the WTO to make deals for us; we need to initiate trade ourselves. We need to encourage Congress to implement the current bilateral FTA's with Colombia, Panama and South Korea in the near future, but the first priority in trade needs to be with Cuba.

Jerry Moran has sponsored a bill to lift all sanctions against Cuba. The time is right to make this happen both politically and otherwise. It would, no doubt, help both countries but probably benefit the U.S. more. The United States is the only country not fully trading with Cuba.

If you are a member of a farm organization, great; if not, you should think about it. If you simply don't want to belong, you should still contact your congressman or woman and voice your opinion. As stated before, the time is right for change. The people of Cuba are optimistic about trade with us and are wishing for change. Through our eternal optimism as farmers along with our unstoppable determination, we can make this happen.

--Ron Suppes, Dighton, Kan.

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