FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:   Phillip Hayes

Wednesday, August 4, 2010                                                                           202-271-5734 (cell)

From the International Sweetener Symposium:

Sen. Conrad: Sugar Well Positioned for Future

VAIL, Colo.—Tight budgets on Capitol Hill will dominate the 2012 Farm Bill discussion, and that environment will be favorable for sugar producers, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) today told a roomful of sugar producers and buyers.

“I think, without question, that because [sugar policy] is no cost it helps in the battle to come,” he said.

Conrad pointed out that the farm safety net represents less than one-half of one percent of federal spending, and sugar’s share of that minimal expense is projected to remain $0 through 2020.

Conrad joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), and others in offering support for the current sugar program at this week’s 27^th International Sweetener Symposium.

According to Conrad, trade issues could present an obstacle to sugar policy’s operation, but sugar producers are poised to overcome those challenges.

U.S. and Mexican government officials just “reached agreement on a number of measures to improve data sharing and allow for better operation of our integrated sugar market,” he said.

Because Mexican sugar producers have unfettered access to the U.S. sugar market, such cooperation is essential to making sure the USDA receives the information it needs to continue operating sugar policy in a way that avoids shortages and oversupplies.

There’s good news about new trade deals that could unbalance the sugar market, too.

Regarding World Trade Organization talks, Conrad noted, “The current Administration recognizes that the proposed agriculture deal is a non-starter in Congress.” And Australia would face stiff opposition to reopening its existing trade deal with the United States to gain greater share of the U.S. sugar market under the Trans Pacific Partnership pact.

A balanced U.S. sugar market helps ensure that sugar policy will remain no cost to taxpayers.

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For more information about the International Sweetener Symposium, visit www.sugaralliance.org
Symposium audio files can be downloaded at www.ASAradio.org