Sugar Producer

30 Sugar Producer OCTOBER 2016 A NEW LEAF. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE YOU CAN EARN. SESVanderHave.com/US 1717 NAR VDH_ad 8x5_r1.indd 1 11/13/15 9:43 AM 155715SESVan12v.indd 1 4/6/16 10:51 AM At the same time, a weaker U.S. sugar policy would have a "large impact on the 142,000 jobs supported by the sugar industry," Triantis said. The study was done, in part, in response to food and candy manufacturers' attempts to reform the U.S. sugar program and eliminate U.S. import quotas. Another study by Joe Outlaw and James Richardson, both from Texas A&M University, discredited current legislative proposals to change U.S. sugar policy. "Our analysis indicates that the proposed reforms, while perhaps of some short-term economic advantage to food manufacturers, would result in significant cost to U.S. taxpayers and sugarcane and sugarbeet farmers and processors, with little or no advantage to U.S. consumers," they wrote in the paper, titled "Analysis of the Coalition for Sugar Reform Amendments to U.S. Sugar Policy: Potential Effect on Policy and Industry." "The United States has provided a safety net for U.S. sugar producers for more than 200 years in response to a heavily subsidized and distorted world sugar market," Outlaw and Richardson wrote. The only policy gaps during that time occurred from 1975 to 1976 and from 1980 to 1981. "And on both occasions prices skyrocketed and burned consumers," they wrote. "Worst of all, repeating the mistakes of the past would leave America dependent on unreliable, subsidized suppliers like Brazil, Mexico, India and Thailand." HONORING JIM JOHNSON Jim Johnson, president of the U.S. Beet Sugar Association and ASA executive committee member, is retiring at year's end. Markwart thanked Johnson for his many contributions to the sugar industry during his tenure. "This is the greatest industry on the face of the Earth," Johnson said. "But it's time for it to be over. I would like to briefly mention four individuals. "My father (Billy Johnson) taught me work ethic," he said. "I owe a good day's work for a good day's pay." Johnson also credited Rep. Ed Jones, D-Tenn., who served in the U.S. House from 1969 to 1989, for his help. "He saw something in this redneck kid from Tennessee," Johnson said. "He showed me a person can go a long way if you're nice." Johnson often asked himself 'What would Mr. Ed have done?' He also thanked Van Olson, his predecessor at the association, for teaching him everything about being a good lobbyist. "He taught me how to discern the truth, and we only get one chance to tell it," Johnson said. Johnson concluded by thanking Matt Shepard, whom he called his "partner-in- life and my best friend." Johnson joined the U.S. Beet Sugar Association in 1989 after spending 12 years on Capitol Hill as majority counsel to a House Agriculture Subcommittee. He has been president of the association for the past 18 years, over which time he's also served as ASA chairman for five terms. Brian Baenig joined the association as executive vice president in July. The former chief of staff to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will be promoted to the role of president Jan. 1. n

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