Mahalo, Farm Bureau Print
The Sugar Beat
Mahalo, Farm Bureau Earlier this month, the American Farm Bureau Federation held their annual convention in Hawaii—a state that is synonymous with sugar production.
And when the Farm Bureau’s state presidents arrived from across the country, they were greeted with a letter from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI), who let them know just how important a strong Farm Bill is to the future of Hawaiian sugar.
“The Farm Bill is important to our nation’s growers and to our Hawaii producers for needed ongoing research, to ensure conservation techniques work for tropical crops, and to continue the no cost sugar program,” read the letter.
His letter, which also said a strong farm policy is tied to America’s security, was apparently well received.
During the convention, the Farm Bureau formalized their policy stance on sugar, which reads, in part:
We support a program to protect the interests of domestic sugar producers and recommend that any appropriate legislation should include a sugar title with provisions that ensure a strong and economically viable domestic sugar industry.
We support maintaining the inventory management provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill sugar program.
Ryan Weston, who represents Hawaii’s sugar industry, applauded the Farm Bureau for its policy position and said the sugar industry enjoys a great relationship with the country’s biggest farm organization.
And given the success of the current sugar policy, he wasn’t surprised by the Farm Bureau’s continued support.
“U.S. sugar policy works for taxpayers, grocery shoppers, and this country’s food security. It supports 142,000 U.S. jobs and contributes nearly $20 billion to our economy. It hasn’t cost taxpayers a dime, and it shouldn’t be weakened in the upcoming Farm Bill debate,” said Weston.
“Even the policy’s biggest opponents, large candy companies, have thrived since the no-cost policy was signed into law in 2008 by increasing production, expanding operations, and adding jobs,” he concluded.
Sugar enjoys a similar positive policy resolution by the National Farmers Union (NFU), the nation’s second biggest agricultural group.
The NFU policy states:
NFU supports the continuation of the no-cost United States sugar program and encourages Congress to work with United States sugar producers to adopt a strong sugar program in future farm bills. Today’s program has successfully provided consumers with stable, reliable supplies of sugar at reasonable prices, provided sugar producers with decent income and provided good employment opportunities in rural communities.
 

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