This week the House Ag Committee talked about the possibility of normalizing agricultural trade with Cuba. National Association of Wheat Growers President Gordon Stoner, a Montana farmer is encouraged the panel is taking a close look at that.

He says one of the keys he’s glad the ag committee is considering is looking at lifting financial restrictions on Cuba because that would speed up trade.

Stoner says the timing of lifting trade restrictions with Cuba is important because the ag economy is in an economic downturn and adding that market could help U.S. producers bottom line.

House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says he’s hoping to find a path forward to allow and expand agricultural trade to Cuba but is against lifting the travel embargo.