WASHINGTON -- (AP) -- Calling a House-backed Cuba trade bill a ``legislative
 hoax,'' a farm-state senator vowed Thursday to push for an alternative measure
 that would make it easier to export food to the communist country.

 The House plan ``will not achieve the objective of opening markets to our farmers,''
 Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said at a news conference.

 The bill, a compromise brokered by Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., requires
 Cuba to pay cash for food or obtain credit from a third country, which Dorgan calls
 a ``killer provision'' because Cuba has little cash.

 Dorgan and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., are circulating a letter urging fellow
 lawmakers to support allowing the sale of food without the bans on government or
 private financing. A similar bill passed the Senate with 70 votes last year.

 Dorgan said he plans to bring his bill up for a vote within the next two weeks. Sen.
 Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has said he will try to kill both the House and
 Senate Cuba bills because he opposes trade with Cuba.

 Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., supports Dorgan and Dodd's effort,
 saying ``it is virtually impossible for Cubans to pay cash for anything at this
 point.''

 The nation's largest farm group, the American Farm Bureau Federation, supports
 the House provision.

 ``It's a good first step to opening up their markets,'' spokesman Don Lipton said.

 He disagreed with Dorgan's assessment that the ban on financing would make
 agricultural sales to Cuba impossible.

 ``Other sources of financing may come through and help Cubans purchase our
 goods,'' he said, referring to the potential for third-country financing.

 But Tom Buis, a vice president at the National Farmers Union, said the House
 plan ``doesn't offer much promise to America's farmers and ranchers.''

 ``It's heavy on symbolism but light on substance,'' said Buis, whose organization
 represents family farmers and ranchers.

 Buis estimated that if the trade bill is broadened and American farmers could tap
 just one-third of the Cuban wheat market, for example, they could earn an
 additional $300 million a year.