A Time of Uncertainty for the Beet Business

There have been years when sugarbeet growers were insulated from the struggles in the farm economy. That’s not the case this year with high input costs and lower sugar prices. “Similar to all commodities, sugar has seen a substantial decrease in the price that we’re receiving,” said Harrison Weber, executive director, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. “We’ve seen some real pain in the countryside, real uncertainty, and I’d say a lot of nervousness by growers. We’re working hard in D.C. to come up with some solutions. It just might take a little time, and unfortunately, there might be some guys out there that don’t have that luxury of time.” These financial pressures will be part of the conversation at the American Sugarbeet Growers Association Annual Meeting this upcoming week in California.