Congressional leaders show support for sugar policy
Leaders of the Congressional agriculture committees reiterated their support for U.S. sugar policy during the 39th International Sweetener Symposium held in Seattle on Aug. 2-7.
Hosted by the American Sugar Alliance (ASA), this year’s conference, titled “Stability, Security, Safety: The Need for a Strong Farm Bill,” featured sugar industry leaders, policymakers and economists addressing critical issues facing the sweetener industry.
The ASA is a national coalition of sugarbeet and sugarcane producers, including sugar farmers, sugar processors, sugar refiners, sugar suppliers, sugar workers and others dedicated to preserving a strong U.S. sugar industry.
The organization works to ensure sugar farmers and workers in the U.S. sugar industry survive in a world of heavily subsidized sugar.
ASA states, only through a united effort can a dedicated industry continue to offer a plentiful, secure and reasonably-priced sugar supply, and its misson is to provide the backing and support to meet this national need.
Farm bill
The farm bill, referred to as the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, contains the U.S. sugar program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
According to an Aug. 6 ASA press release written by Elizabeth Fusick, “Sugar is a vital ingredient in our national food supply, and U.S. farmers, workers and food manufacturers support sugar policy provisions in the bipartisan Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024.”
ASA reports during the symposium, Watson Green, LLC Principal Randy Green spoke on behalf of the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) calling the bill “responsive and positive,” resulting in more American-made sugar.
“The SUA views the bill as a pretty balanced package, and it seems to us the committees have been responsive to both the needs of both growers and users,” Green states. “From our members’ standpoint, we want a prosperous domestic sugar industry.”
Both SUA and ASA stress the need for a strong sugar policy, which would ensure U.S. farmers’ continued growth while refining sugar crops which supply American food manufacturers.
ASA Director of Economics and Policy Analysis Rob Johansson states, “Growing the food we eat has become significantly more expensive. The commonsense improvements to sugar policy put forward by both the House and Senate better reflect the economic realities of planting, cultivating, harvesting and refining sugarbeets and sugarcane.”
He continues, “This will ensure our farmers and workers can continue providing SUA members with American-made sugar, while lessening our dependence on foreign countries for this essential ingredient.”
ASA notes domestic sugar production fulfills about 75 percent of the U.S.’s sugar needs, and together with imports from more than 70 countries, the U.S. always has access to affordable sugar.
However, Green brought forth the challenges presented this year by an ongoing supply shortage from Mexico.
“Current market demands, in conjunction with low tariffs which have not risen with inflation for nearly 30 years, have led to additional sugar entering the U.S. market from the world market,” explains Johansson. “This demonstrates the flexibility of U.S. sugar policy. USDA has administered U.S. sugar policy in a way which ensures the market is adequately supplied with sugar and the global market has supplied more when needed.”
Showing support
Language in the House and Senate agriculture committees’ versions of the proposed farm bill has been seen as favorable for both sugar users, represented by the SUA and for sugar producers, represented by the ASA.
Both farm bill proposals include provisions providing additional financial security to sugar producers, as well as to implement technical updates to provide more sugar to the market earlier in the year for sugar users.
In recorded remarks, House Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA), Sen. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) each emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong domestic sugar industry and remarked on the vital role sugar plays in the U.S.
“Sugar is so important. We can do without a lot of things, but the one thing we cannot do without is sugar,” states Scott.
Thompson adds, “Across the country, the message I heard loud and clear is farmers are struggling, and the safety net is inadequate. Between low commodity prices and high input costs, the margin squeeze is getting more serious as each day goes by.”
The House and Senate committees both released a farm bill proposal to support the farmers ability to grow, harvest, process and deliver sugar to families and food manufacturers in the U.S.
“The farm bill will give renewed strength to the farm safety net, just as producers need it most,” Thompson continues. “On sugar specifically, not only did we deliver on critical policy improvements for domestic growers and processors, we were able to do so in a way to enhance the sugar supply chain which garnered the support of sugar users, making this the first ever farm bill supported by both sides of the industry.”
Addressing the extensive contributions of the U.S. sugar industry, Stabenow remarks, “The industry supports more than 151,000 jobs and more than $28 billion in annual economic activity.”
“Sugar may be sweet, but producersʼ role in the American economy and in communities across the country is even sweeter,” she states. “I am working hard to enact a bipartisan farm bill by the end of the year. My farm bill proposal helps sugar growers by improving loan rates and making other important changes to the sugar program.”
Highlighting the need for additional farm support, Boozman stressed the importance of a strong domestic supply chain for sugar.
“Farmers are facing challenges ranging from historic inflation, record trade deficit, rising interest rates, devastating natural disasters and global disruptions,” he states. “Senate Republicans have released a framework addressing those concerns. Our framework strengthens and protects sugar policy for growers, and we facilitate the movement of more domestic sugar into the marketplace for those who use it.”
ASA states it will continue working alongside the House and Senate agriculture committees to encourage Congress to deliver greater certainty and a strengthened safety net through a five-year farm bill as soon as possible.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
