News

Record sugarbeet production likely, GAO misses impact of industry

The American Sugar Alliance is expecting a record production year for sugarbeet growers.

Rob Johansson is the Director of Economics and Policy Analysis.

“Well over 5 million tons of beet sugar going to be produced this year across the whole growing region,” he says.

He tells Brownfield that should balance out sugar cane production which will likely have a smaller harvest because of weather issues.

A recent report from the Government Accountability Office outlines ways the USDA could be more effective in administering the U.S. sugar program.  Johansson calls it misleading and shortsighted.

“GAO ignores the fact that uncertain import supply would be the result of getting rid of the sugar program, which is essentially what they’re hinting at in their report,” he says.

He says American growers produce about 75 percent of the sugar consumed in the U.S. which supports rural and urban economies throughout the food supply chain.