Sugar industry leaders from across the country met in Michigan last week for the 40th annual International Sweetener Symposium. Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association President Brent Baldwin says it was a robust discussion. Basically, a lot of trade talk, supply and demand, talk about world prices and sugar; it’s kind of interesting to see what’s going on with the world.” While production is up, Baldwin says demand is down and prices remain under pressure. “It’s a bit of mixed feelings right now, and it’s another thing we need to work through,” Baldwin explained. USDA leadership told producers they intend to keep the U.S. sugar industry strong without taxpayer cost, supporting American-grown sugar as part of national security.
