ASA Applauds Ag Secretary Selection

WASHINGTON-After President George W. Bush nominated former N.D. Governor Ed Schafer for Secretary of Agriculture, The American Sugar Alliance released the following statement on behalf of America's sugar farmers and processors: "We are excited for former Governor Schafer and applaud the President on his selection. Schafer hails from a sugar-producing state and knows firsthand the challenges facing America's sugar producers. He is keenly aware that policy decisions made in Washington, DC, directly affect the lives of everyday sugar farmers and workers. "This is a pivotal time for rural America, and it is important that U.S. sugar farmers have a qualified leader overseeing the USDA. We hope for a speedy Senate confirmation and look forward to hearing former Governor Schafer's views on the current issues facing sugar producers, including the Farm Bill, ensuring the NAFTA's successful transition to a harmonized North American market that works for sugar producers here and in Mexico, and ongoing trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization." The American Sugar Alliance is the national coalition of growers, processors, and refiners of sugarbeets and sugarcane, accounting for 146,000 American jobs in 19 states. For more information about U.S. sugar policy visit www.sugaralliance.org.