Sugar Producer

22 Sugar Producer APRIL 2021 True Stories New website tells sugar's sweet story Growing up, fourth-generation farmer Makelle Pinsonat rode in the tractor alongside her parents in the sugarcane fields of Louisiana. Now, Pinsonat is raising her own family on the family farm. "It's in your blood. It's in your heart," Pinsonat says. "It's a privilege to be able to say, 'I'm a United States sugarcane farmer.'" Across the country, Montana farmer Ervin Schlemmer is a fourth-generation sugarbeet farmer who cherishes the time spent working as a family. "It's something that puts a good feeling right here in my heart to know that's what we are all about," Schlemmer says. Pinsonat and Schlemmer are two of the 11,000 farmers and farm families who grow sugarcane and sugarbeets across the country and whose stories are featured on the brand new website for the American Sugar Alliance, www. SugarAlliance.org. When growers met with members of Congress last month via Zoom, we wanted to arm them with the best possible digital tools. So the American Sugar Alliance got to work, putting together a new, streamlined site to share sugar's sweet story with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and members of the public who would like to learn more about the farmers who produce America's sugar — and the no-cost sugar policy that supports them. There's a lot to talk about, like how America's sugar farmers produce about 9 million tons of sugar a year on 2 million acres. Or how America's skilled sugar workers efficiently turn these crops into high-quality sugar that is then shipped to consumers and food manufacturers across the country. The stories of our farmers and workers — the people who are truly at the heart of the sugar industry — are displayed throughout the site in the form of videos and photos. Visitors to the website can also find an interactive map that demonstrates the coast-to-coast reach of the sugar industry and shares unique facts about sugar's footprint in each state. States that produce sugar also feature an informative fact sheet with key stats, such as acres of sugar crops farmed and the economic impact of sugar in that state. In total, America's sugar industry supports 142,000 jobs and adds $20 billion to the U.S. economy while keeping America supplied with an essential ingredient. And sugar production is increasingly sustainable — with current U.S. production up 16 percent over the past 20 years while using 11 percent less land. Of course, all of this is possible thanks to a sugar policy designed to cost taxpayers nothing. That seems like a pretty sweet deal. But with so many new faces on Capitol Hill, many of whom have never voted on sugar policy before, we wanted to make sure that our new website gives a clear and concise explainer of how U.S. sugar policy actually works. It's simple: 1. The U.S. is the fifth-largest producer and third-largest importer in the world. 2. Existing trade deals provide preferential access to 41 countries, with the U.S. importing as much as one-third of its of consumption needs in recent years. 3. The Farm Bill authorizes USDA to offer loans to domestic producers to provide for orderly marketing. 4. Because loans are repaid with interest and there are no subsidy checks, the policy operates at zero cost to taxpayers. 5. If too much sugar is produced, U.S. producers store excess at their own expense. 6. If more sugar is needed, additional sugar can be quickly imported. Importantly, without a strong sugar policy, American sugar farmers and workers would be facing competition from a massively distorted global sugar market wrecked by foreign subsidies. That's why Congress has repeatedly rebuffed attempts to dismantle America's no-cost sugar policy, most recently by an overwhelming 141-vote margin in the House. These are just a few of the many resources, fact sheets, photos and other resources now available at www.SugarAlliance.org. We encourage you to explore everything that our brand new website has to offer. n FROM THE ASA By Phillip Hayes | Director of Media Relations Ervin Schlemmer Makelle Pinsonat

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