Farmers’ Message to Congress: Defend our Farms

More than 75 sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers and producers from across the country took time away from their farms earlier this month to travel to DC and meet with members of Congress and their staff members. This fly-in came at a critical time as America's farm economy is in crisis.

The farmers shared their personal stories and detailed the challenges they are facing back home: increased input costs, cratering sugar prices, and a freeze in South Florida, among others. Margins are always tight in agriculture, but the situation is becoming untenable for many farmers.

Hear their stories in their own words - click on the images below to watch each farmer's testimonial.

"You don't want to be the generation that fails and loses the farm."

Minnesota sugarbeet farmer Rachel Arneson called this harvest season "bittersweet." She experienced record yields this past fall, but low sugar prices and high input costs are putting immense pressure on her family farm. Watch her story here.

"Agriculture is so vitally important to this country, that we have to keep it going. I don't think we have a choice."

America's sugar producers are dealing with shrinking margins that are threatening the viability of multi-generational family farms, like the farm of Louisiana sugarcane grower Travis Medine. Watch his story here.

"I think as a farmer, we're always optimistic about the future, but I have to be honest, right now is probably one of the toughest times that I've seen in my farming career."

North Dakota sugarbeet farmer John Schumacher would like to preserve an opportunity for his son, Zane, to come back to the family farm. Watch his story here.

Farmers also took their messages to their hometown newspapers, penning op-eds talking about what it was like to advocate for their farms and communities in Washington, DC - and what is at stake. Click each image below to read the full op-ed.

Want to learn more about the strategic importance of sugar policy? Check out the fact sheets our farmers handed out here.

A strong U.S. sugar policy puts American family farmers and workers first and keeps America reliably supplied with sugar. We appreciate Congress' continued bipartisan support for a strong domestic sugar industry.