| Washington, D.C. (July 26, 2023)—“The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) again expresses strong support for the U.S. sugar program. We also urge the House of Representatives to reject any amendments offered on the agriculture appropriations bill to alter, weaken, or dismantle the current program, or to do away with tools that allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to manage it effectively. A critical part of the farm bill safety net for sugar producers, U.S. sugar policy has proven its worth, supporting thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity in rural areas. These are communities where employment opportunities are often scarce, and where the economic benefits of sugar production and farmer co-ops are most deeply felt. |
| “Several amendments offered to the bill pose a significant threat to American sugar producers. They would not only put the more than 151,000 well-paying jobs in the U.S. sugar industry at risk but also threaten the livelihoods of American family farmers and processors and would lead to replacing American-produced sugar with heavily subsidized foreign sugar. Contrary to the arguments put forth by some, the amendments would do nothing to help sugar users. Instead, they would result in job losses and economic instability, threatening to undermine the effectiveness of the 2018 farm bill. |
| “As such, NCFC urges the House to respect the commitment it made to farmers in the 2018 farm bill and reject any amendments that would undermine current U.S. sugar programs.” |
| About NCFC |
| Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn consist of nearly 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 17 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets. |
| America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing. |
Statement of NCFC President Chuck Conner on Proposed Agriculture Appropriations Amendments Targeting U.S. Sugar Policy
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