"We are very encouraged by President Obama’s actions and appreciate the administration’s prompt action on the issue. In this step-by-step process, the Farm Bureau would also like the administration to consider agriculture provisions," said Mr Stallman.

Mr Stallman said that US agricultural sales to Cuba have been on average $400 million annually since 2000, with top commodity sales including poultry, wheat, soybeans, rice and dairy. With expanded trade to the country, he expects that agriculture sales will increase to more than $1 billion annually.

"Current language in the omnibus appropriations bill aids US agriculture by allowing travel on a general license for those making agricultural sales to Cuba rather than the specific license currently needed. This would ease delays that significantly impact the ability to transact commercial sales with Cuba, which in some cases, have been lost to US competitors because of the restriction," Mr Stallman said.

"Other priorities for AFBF in regard to Cuba include commercially defining ‘cash payments in advance’ as intended by Congress in the 2000 Trade Sanctions and Reform Act; allowing the country to directly wire payment to US banks instead of going through a third-country bank as it does now; and issuing visas for Cuban inspectors to travel to the US to meet with suppliers, inspect facilities and verify procedures and standards associated with the sale of US food and agricultural exports to Cuba," concluded Mr Stallman.