Two Iowa corn groups say they’ve inked an eight-figure agricultural deal with the Cubans. Dave Boettger, past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, says Cuba’s now buying about $70-million worth of Iowa products every year. That’s being increased by at least $10-million with this agreement. The Cubans have been buying mostly corn and soybeans from Iowa, but the island nation wants to load up on a cattlefeed known as D-D-Gs. “Distillers dried grains” are a by-product from making ethanol, something Iowa has in abundance with 11 ethanol plants now running. Boettger, who farms in Harlan, was in Cuba earlier this month to finalize the arrangement, along with members of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He says more deals are pending with Cuba that could see millions more in exports of pork, beef and corn-based ethanol fuel.
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