Farm Bill Policies Keep Sustainable Family Farms Alive
Across the country, there are 11,000 family farmers that grow sugarbeets and sugarcane. Many of these farms have been passed down from generation to generation. In Boulder County, Colorado, generations of experience are building a more sustainable future. Paul Schlagel is a fourth-generation farmer whose family has farmed the same land for 100 years. Paul […]
Seeding a Sustainable Future
Every year, America’s farmers do something incredible: they nurture a small seed or sprout until harvest in order to provide all of us with an affordable supply of food. For sugarbeet growers, a sugarbeet seed is not only the starting point for the production of sugar, but is also an important part of sugar’s sustainability […]
Statement on Senate Passage of the Growing Climate Solutions Act
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance on Senate passage of the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act: “Today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan Senate vote for the Growing Climate Solutions Act is a testament to the hard work of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.). As members of […]
New Report Highlights Resiliency of America’s Sugar Supply Chain
America’s sugar supply chain proved resilient in the face of immense challenges in 2019 and 2020, in large part due to the stability provided by U.S. farm and trade policies, the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) stated in a report submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This report was developed by industry economists Jack […]
Waste Not: From Sugarcane Waste to Sustainable Power Source
Louisiana is known for its flat bayous – not exactly its rolling hills. But outside each of Louisiana’s 11 sugar mills, there stands a hill of bagasse. Bagasse is the fibrous material that’s left over after the sugar juice is squeezed out of sugarcane stalks. American BioCarbon is a Louisiana-based company that’s helping turn bagasse […]
New Study Pulls Back the Curtain on Russian Sugar Industry Transformation
Russia’s sugar industry has made an unparalleled and unexpected transformation from one of the world’s biggest sugar importers, relying on foreign sugar for up to 80 percent of its needs as recently as 2003, to a net exporter of sugar. Little has been documented about Russia’s rapid rise until today, when the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) released […]
Statement on the Confirmation of Dr. Jewel Bronaugh
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance on the confirmation of Dr. Jewel Bronaugh as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “America’s sugar farmers and workers congratulate Dr. Jewel Bronaugh on her confirmation as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Dr. Bronaugh brings a wealth of expertise in promoting American agriculture to USDA as well […]
Louisiana Sugar Producers Geaux Sustainable
In south Louisiana, the sugarcane grows high and the heritage of the sugarcane industry runs deep. For nearly 130 years, generations of Louisiana sugar workers have refined raw sugar at the Louisiana Sugar Refining (LSR) refinery in Gramercy, Louisiana. The American Sugar Alliance recently spoke to Larry Faucheux, CEO of LSR, about the contributions that […]
Statement on the nomination of Robert Bonnie
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance on the nomination of Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “U.S. sugar farmers and workers rely on the Farm Bill programs administered by USDA’s FPAC mission area to continue producing safe, reliable, and quality supplies of American […]
Statement on the Growing Climate Solutions Act
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance in support of the reintroduction of the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act: “America’s sugar farmers are dedicated to advancing climate-smart policies and support efforts to dismantle technical barriers that impede the ability for farmers to voluntarily participate in carbon markets. The bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act is an important […]
Spring is Here, Bringing Sugar Forecasts
Column authored by Dr. Robert Johansson, Associate Director of Economics and Policy Analysis at the American Sugar Alliance. The vernal equinox, aka spring equinox, came and went Saturday, March 20, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring. As all good aggies know, that means the economists at the Food and Agricultural Policy […]
Sugar Producers Applaud Recent Comments by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai
Newly confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently signaled strong support for America’s sugar producers and affirmed her commitment to America’s no-cost sugar policy, sending cheers throughout sugar country. In written comments submitted to the Senate Finance Committee following her confirmation hearing, Tai responded to inquiries from several senators asking how she would handle trade issues pertaining […]
Statement on the Confirmation of Katherine Tai
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance on the confirmation of Ambassador Katherine Tai as the U.S. Trade Representative: “America’s sugar farmers and workers congratulate Ambassador Tai on her confirmation as the U.S. Trade Representative. We look forward to partnering with Ambassador Tai to advance our shared goals of worker-centered trade policies that acknowledge the importance of good-paying […]
Zero Dollars
America’s sugar policy is designed to cost taxpayers nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. That seems like a pretty sweet deal. But how exactly does U.S. sugar policy work? It’s simple: The U.S. is the 5th largest producer and 3rd largest importer in the world. Existing trade deals provide preferential access to 41 countries, with the U.S. importing as much […]
Statement on Confirmation of Secretary Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture
Statement from the American Sugar Alliance on the confirmation of Secretary Tom Vilsack as the Secretary of Agriculture: “America’s sugar farmers and workers extend their heartfelt congratulations to Secretary Tom Vilsack on his confirmation as the Secretary of Agriculture. Secretary Vilsack’s support for smart farm and trade policies will allow sugar producers to continue investing in sustainable farm practices, efficient sugar production […]
Meet America’s Sugar Producers
Growing up, fourth-generation farmer Makelle Pinsonat rode in the tractor alongside her parents in the sugarcane fields of Louisiana. Now, Makelle is raising her own family on the farm. “It’s in your blood. It’s in your heart,” Makelle says. “It’s a privilege to be able to say, ‘I’m a United States sugarcane farmer.’” Across the country, Montana […]
Research in Louisiana Supports Sustainable Sugarcane Production
America’s sugar producers are constantly working to develop new technologies to further our mission to produce sugar, sustainably. These advances in technology not only help protect the environment, they also help sugar growers increase efficiencies and stay profitable. Louisiana State University (LSU) is at the forefront of sustainable sugarcane production. Dr. Kenneth Gravois is a […]
Teaching Sustainability Using Fast Food
Deep in Louisiana sugarcane country, there lies a giant hamburger. Or rather, a food plot in the shape of a hamburger. Not too far away there are similar gardens in the shape of a hot dog, a box of french fries and a taco. This is the Fast Food Farm in St. James Parish, a non-profit educational […]
The Future of Farming
If you’re interested in seeing what the future of farming looks like, look no further than the sugarcane fields of Louisiana. There, sugarcane farmer Shelby Duplantis and sugar analyst Sandor Garcia are paving new roads for young sugar producers. Watch their inspiring stories and learn how they’re committed to producing sugar sustainably. Shelby Duplantis is the fifth generation in her […]
Statement on House Agriculture Committee Leadership Elections
“America’s sugar farmers and workers extend their congratulations to Congressman David Scott for his election as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson for his election as the Ranking Member. We are confident that under their leadership, the House Agriculture Committee will continue its record of supporting America’s sugar producers and […]