American Agri-Women

Contact: Karolyn Zurn 18629 Co. Hwy 14 Callaway, MN 56521

Cell 218-850-9219

Fax 218-375-2367

Hello to AAW I am a Sugarbeet grower in the Red River Valley of Minnesota.  We grow for the Crystal Sugar plants.

To start with if you want to know more about the history or facts you can go to www.sugar.org

Recently in the presidental debates there have been some statements that I feel are not representing the American sugar growers rightfully.

Comments about big sugar and the subsidies and how these subsidies would be examined and done away with.

First of all the sugar program is not classified as a subsidy. Farmers do not receive any money at all.

The program is just that--- a very successfully planned program that protects sugar from being exploited. Several years back the main candy companies of the U.S.A. wanted the program to go away thinking the price of sugar was to high and their bottom line. Lawmakers finally gave in and did just that--- they cut the sugar program.  Candy companies within a year asked for the sugar program back that protected the price and flood of foriegn sugars.  Why??? because there was a sugar shortage world wide that year and the price went higher than ever. The candy companies learned a big lesson and so should we.

I am angered that politians of both parties refer to the sugar program as a subsidy.

Most of the farm programs have already been cut back. The American farmer should discuss these situations with their congressman.