Sugarbeet Growers Stress The Need Of An Updated Farm Bill

Trade and tariffs have controlled much of the conversation across the farming community and in D.C.  But several commodity groups are trying to remind everyone that the Farm Bill is an issue that still needs to be addressed.  Samantha Parrott, Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association says the Farm Bill is not just a want for growers, but a need.

“Sugar is a Title 1 commodity, so we have sugar policy within the Farm Bill and this is the policy that we live or die by," she stressed.  "We have to have sugar policy.  This is the most important policy to our industry. It helps protect the domestic sugar industry.”

Parrott says it’s important to stress that a lot has changed in the ag industry since 2018.

"For our growers, they need an increase in the safety net. Our growers are experiencing record inflation and at the same time, commodity prices are way down. So out in farm country, our growers are barely making it on razor thin margins and so that really was our message when we were back there is we need a farm bill now. We're tired of the can being kicked down the road.”

Parrott said in her conversations with lawmakers, some have indicated another extension this September is not off the table.

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