chicago u.s. farm group criticize president donald trump decision retreat predecessor open toward cuba say could derail huge increase farm export total 221 million last year trade delegation minnesota one large u.s. agriculture state vow carry plan visit cuba next week go continue beat drum let trump administration know trade good agriculture say kevin paap farmer delegation trump sign presidential directive friday roll back part former president barack obama open communist-ruled country 2014 diplomatic breakthrough two former cold war foes farm group saw move step backward improve trade relationship two countries 90 miles 145 kms apart even though agriculture directly target u.s. law exempt food decades-old embargo u.s. trade cuba cumbersome rule transactions execute make deal difficult costly since obama detente substantial headway make however shipments u.s. corn soybeans cuba soar 420 percent 2016 year early 268,360 tonnes u.s. department agriculture data show first four months 2017 total shipments u.s. grain soy 142,860 tonnes 49,090 tonnes period 2016. quantities dwarf total u.s. export nearly 56 million tonnes corn alone last year add volumes welcome farmers face fourth year languish grain price crimp incomes time farm economy struggle ask leaders washington close doors market opportunities american agriculture wesley spurlock president national corn growers association say statement group see opportunity 125 million year trade cuba trump move could cut near-term sales stymie economic development would drive longer-term demand growth say tom sleight president u.s. grain council grain trade development organization statement neither outcomes favorable u.s. ag sector cuban people add paap say unite state encourage export frustrate make advance build relationships say u.s. farmers slam trump 's cuba clampdown press forward trade visit