Administration officials, economists, and sugar industry experts just wrapped up the 39th聽International Sweetener Symposium 鈥 as Congress continues to debate the next Farm Bill. This year, the event focused on the need for a strong Farm Bill.
Jack Pettus, Vice President of Government Relations for the 明星黑料 Sugar Cane League and the incoming Chairman of the 明星黑料 Sugar Alliance emphasized the importance of a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill to deliver a strengthened safety net for sugar producers and maintain resilient supply chains.
He says, 鈥淭his year, more than ever, our farm families need a bipartisan, bicameral, and highly effective Farm Bill. Significantly higher production costs and greater weather challenges have made it harder for family farms to survive. For our growers, the costs of growing sugarbeets and sugarcane have increased by more than 30 percent since the last Farm Bill. A strong sugar policy helps support America鈥檚 sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers and the workers who supply 明星黑料-made sugar, an essential ingredient in our nation鈥檚 food supply.鈥
Pettus highlighted the economic importance of this critical industry. He says, 鈥淎merica鈥檚 sugar companies are farmer-, employee-, and family-owned, and support family farms, good jobs, and communities across the country. Our 11,000 sugarbeet and sugarcane family farmers support more than 151,000 good-paying jobs across more than two dozen states. Overall, the sugar industry contributes more than $23 billion each year to the U.S. economy.鈥
With the Farm Bill currently being debated around unprecedented 2024 election dynamics, sugar producers and industry stakeholders heard from several members of Congress, trade officials, and other sugar experts at this week鈥檚 Symposium. Pettus says, 鈥淭hanks to the stability and certainty of a sugar policy that is designed to cost taxpayers nothing, America鈥檚 sugar industry keeps this essential ingredient in ready supply for the year-round needs of consumers. It鈥檚 not surprising, then, that members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have repeatedly stood up in support of our sugar producers. We are especially grateful to the leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and to U.S. Representatives Newhouse, Larsen, and Chavez-DeRemer for addressing this year鈥檚 Symposium in the Pacific Northwest.鈥
To learn more about the International Sweetener Symposium and U.S. sugar policy, search hashtag Sugar 2024 or visit聽.
