11 February 2005

Lt. Governor announces sale of Kansas wheat to Cuba

GARDEN CITY-- Lt. Governor John Moore today announced the sale of 25,000 metric tons of Kansas Hard Red Winter Wheat to Cuba. Though wheat has been flowing to Cuba since the passage of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSREEA), no shipment has ever been sole source verified to Kansas. Joining the Lt. Governor in this announcement were David Frey, of the Kansas Wheat Commission (KWC) and John McLelland, Manager, Garden City Coop.

The Lt. Governor partnered with KWC, Cargill and DeBruce Grains to make this one-of-a-kind sale possible. The specifications were that the shipment be identity-preserved to Kansas. Forty percent will come from Garden City, 40 percent from Wichita and 20 percent from Salina and delivery will take place in November. The estimated value of the shipment is $3.2 to $3.8 million.

Moore also supported a bill introduced by Senator Pat Roberts, along with 16 fellow Democratic and Republican Senators, and introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jerry Moran, entitled the Agriculture Export Enhancement Act of 2005. This new bill would remove some restrictions and clarify other provisions of the 2000 legislation and would ease the United States’ ability to sell medical and humanitarian products to Cuba. In 2000, Cuba was the United States’ 226th largest agriculture export market, and today it is the 21st largest with over $1 billion in total sales.

“It is vital we have less restrictions in dealing with Cuba,” according to Moore. “Cuba represents an important and growing market for our U.S. farmers and ranchers who should be able to access the Cuban market with the same ease as our international competitors. This will benefit our U.S. agricultural industry.”

The announcement of the sale took place today at the Garden City Coop, Inc.