Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1271705
FROM THE ASGA Luther Markwart | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT New Challenges, Same Work Ethic The sugar industry has used a familiar formula to navigate the challenges of 2020. The past six months brought great challenges and changes to our nation and the world. Monitoring and digesting massive amounts of information to navigate an ever-changing environment has required unprecedented time, attention and collaboration at the local, state and national levels. Let's look at a number of successes in the sugar industry during this time. 1. Getting WHIP+ disaster funds to growers through the cooperatives (except Sidney, Mont., which must go through the FSA county offices) allowed a number of growers to get financing to put the 2020 crop in the ground. 2. The domestic sugar industry provides over 60 different types of sugar to the market in a variety of packages from teaspoon packets to 220,000-pound railcars. In a matter of weeks, the national market pivoted from supplying 650,000 restaurants to 40,000 grocery stores, and our industry successfully responded by packaging more grocery retail packages to meet initial hoarding and spiking demand. 3. We pressed USDA to be cautious in balancing the sugar market and not to increase imports above levels needed. There were significant discrepancies in various import and consumption projections USDA relied on. Thankfully, we prevailed, and the market remains balanced. 4. The anti-dumping and countervailing duty suspension agreements with Mexico have been extended for five years. 5. The 2020 crop is moving forward with significant replants in the Northwest and Michigan, but overall, a good crop is coming. We just need to harvest the crop and get it in the bins. In comparison to the tremendous challenges in other commodities, sugar is doing well. We have been sharing this good news with members of Congress during our virtual fundraisers. Thanks to sugar producers' PAC contributions, we can share our story of meeting consumer needs, employee safeguards in our factories, and our important contributions to our communities. Congress is very concerned about supply chain failures during the COVID-19 pandemic and have told us to expect efforts that bring our supply chains back home 8 Sugar Producer AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020