09/25/06 ASA supports Farm Bill extension

The American Sugar Alliance says this is not the time to rewrite farm policy and that's why that group is one of many calling for an extension of the 2002 Farm Bill. Jack Roney told the House Ag Committee the other day that current policy works just fine for the sugar industry. RONEY "It's working well for American taxpayers. It's working well for American consumers and it's giving American sugar farmers a chance to survive." Roney says the no-cost to the taxpayer approach makes more sense and provides farmers with a stable price. Food manufacturers are pushing Congress to dump the sugar program and replace it with a 1.3 billion dollar per year subsidy program for sugar producers. RONEY "During this time of severe budget constraints where would the money for a new high cost US sugar policy come from? Benefits for other crop farmers would have to be reduced and what happens when that money runs out. As sugar farms fail and 2.4 million acres of sugar beets and cane convert to other crops the increased supplies would put pressure on other farmers' prices." Roney says extending the 2002 Farm Bill is a way to insure that a no-cost sugar policy remains intact. He says existing policy helps support Idaho and American sugar producers and factory workers who today number about 146 thousand nationwide. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott