Can Cuba Amendment Help WA State Farmers?

Can Cuba Amendment Help WA State Farmers?

Susan Allen
Susan Allen
With Washington Ag Today I'm Susan Allen. In a move that could be beneficial for ag exports from Washington State, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee overwhelmingly voted to include four pro-engagement Cuba amendments that included lifting Ports restrictions. An amendment offered by U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-AR) and Jon Tester (D-MT) to allow American farmers to extend private financing for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba passed by a vote of 22-8. The amendment allows Americans to offer private credit for the export of American agricultural commodities to Cuba. Currently, Cuban importers must pay cash on hand for American agricultural commodities, limiting American farmers' ability to compete in Cuba's growing markets. It's wildfire season so I spoke with Scott Hanson District Marketing Manager for Mutual of Enumclaw if those of us that live in rural fire prone areas are penalized by insurance companies.

Hanson: If you are in a rural area that's unprotected by a fire district certainly the premium or the rating algorisms that develop your premium would take that into account. You would have a higher insurance premium than say a home that was in town but there are many other factors that effect that too but overall we kind of all subsidize each other in a shared risk format so while home might be in town and don't get an additional rate for fire protection I might get an additional rate based on the age or condition of that home, something of that nature.

So in essence this all balances out in the end especially when you consider the high cost of living in the city

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