Newsline for April 28, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS FARM BUREAU SAYS THE BEST WAY TO BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO CUBA IS TO LIFT THE U-S TRADE EMBARGO. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM TEXAS FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT DONALD PATMAN. PATMAN IS SPELLED P-A-T-M-A-N.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, PATMAN SAYS CUBA WILL WANT TO BUY AMERICAN FARM PRODUCTS IF GIVEN THE CHANCE. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, PATMAN SAYS LIFTING SANCTIONS ON CUBA WILL BE THE FIRST STEP IN BRINGING POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE ISLAND.

STAND BY, THE STORY COME FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) TEXAS FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT DONALD PATMAN RECENTLY RETURNED WITH OTHER FARMERS AND TEXAS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES STENHOLM FROM A THREE-DAY VISIT TO CUBA. PATMAN SAYS THE EMBARGO HAS BEEN INEFFECTIVE AT CHANGING CUBA'S GOVERNMENT.

(PATMAN) FOR YEARS THE UNITED STATES HAS PUT SANCTIONS ON OTHER COUNTRIES AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT'S HURT IS THE PEOPLE OF THAT COUNTRY, NOT THE OFFICIALS OF THAT COUNTRY AND THE AMERICAN FARMER.

(ELLISON) PATMAN SAYS CUBA NEEDS A VARIETY OF AMERICAN FARM PRODUCTS. HE SAYS OPENING THE CUBAN MARKET WOULD HELP RELIEVE THE U-S FARM COMMODITY SURPLUS.

(PATMAN) WE HAVE A DOMESTIC MARKET BUT WE PRODUCE A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN CONSUME. SO WE NEED TO MOVE THESE COMMODITIES OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES. WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE EXPORTING THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

(ELLISON) PATMAN SAYS THE UNITED STATES' AGRICULTURAL COMPETITORS ARE GAINING ON A MARKET THAT SHOULD BE IMPORTING AMERICAN PRODUCTS.

(PATMAN) CUBA GETS A LOT OF THEIR COMMODITIES FROM EVEN CANADA, SPAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL.

(ELLISON) THERE IS A MEASURE IN CONGRESS TO LIFT THE EMBARGO ON CUBA THAT HAS GOTTEN SOME MEASURE OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH IT STILL FACES STIFF OPPOSITION.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 12 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(PATMAN) THEY CAN BUY FROM THE UNITED STATES, WITH THE PROXIMITY FROM WHERE WE'RE LOCATED TO CUBA, AT A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER RATE.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 16 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(PATMAN) THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS WILL BE THE FIRST STEP AND THERE ARE OTHER STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO BE TOTALLY BENEFICIAL. BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND AS MUCH AS WE'D LIKE TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS TO OTHER COUNTRIES WE'D BE WILLING TO JUST TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.