From Correspondent Pat Neal

                  WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. farmers seeking new export markets
                  want to do business with Cuba, which spends an estimated $1 billion on
                  food imports each year.

                  But lawmakers who support trade sanctions against Cuba vow to hold
                  up the entire agriculture spending bill if it includes a proposed amendment to
                  allow food and medicine sales to the communist nation.

                  Farmers argue simple economics require them to seek new international
                  customers.

                  "This is the largest record crop that we've had and the lowest farm prices in
                  recent years and we really need export markets," said Matt Massaua of the
                  USA Rice Federation."

                  When Cuba, led by revolutionary Fidel Castro, nationalized U.S. properties
                  about 40 years ago, the United States slapped on a stifling trade embargo.
                  Today the sanctions remain, as does Castro.

                  Recently the Senate overwhelmingly passed a amendment to allow food and
                  medicine sales to Cuba. But the provision is currently stalled in conference
                  negotiations between the House and Senate.

                  Democrats in favor of the amendment accuse opponents of using food as a
                  weapon.

                  "What's happening is you have a few right wing ideologues in the House
                  aiming at Castro and hitting our farmers," said Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat
                  from Iowa.

                  Supporters of the embargo argue sanctions are the only way to have
                  leverage on Castro. Unless the Cuba amendment is removed, they threaten
                  to block the entire agricultural appropriations bill, which includes a bailout
                  for farmers and hurricane relief for North Carolina.

                  "We insist on the liberation of all political prisoners, the legalization of
                  all political parties, labor unions and the press, the scheduling of free
                  elections with international supervision by the Cuban government," said Rep.
                  Lincoln Diaz- Balart, a Florida Republican.

                  President Bill Clinton supports sales to Cuba, administration sources said
                  privately. Earlier this year the White House approved sales of food and
                  medicine to other countries against which the United States has imposed
                  sanctions including Iran, Libya and the Sudan.

                  But the president is barred by law from doing the same with Cuba.