Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Executive Director Harrison Weber likes what he sees in the farm bill text released on Friday. It includes updates for the sugar grower, including a loan rate increase. “Right now, we’re basically operating under 2008 numbers and so that was very much appreciated,” said Weber. “We also saw a modernization of sugar storage rates in the unlikely event that sugar is forfeited through the operation of the program. Just as a reminder, sugar’s only been forfeited one time in the last 21 years and that was when Mexico unfairly dumped subsidized sugar onto the market.” The opponents to the sugar program are expected to challenge these provisions. “We’ll be ready for those attacks.”
