One issue dominated John Snyder’s tenure as president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association
That would be the anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases against Mexican sugar imports and the subsequent suspension agreements. A decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission affirmed that Mexico’s sugar industry had harmed American producers by selling subsidized sugar onto the U.S. at below market prices—a practice known as “dumping.”
The 6-0 ruling by the ITC means that an agreement signed by the U.S. and Mexican governments to establish a trading structure that caps Mexican imports and stop Mexico’s abuses will remain in effect for at least five years.
“Certainly no issue was larger than the five-year Mexican trade agreement,” said Snyder, who hesitates to put an exact number on how much time was expended by everyone at the ASGA, including executive vice president Luther Markwart, to resolve that issue.
“All I can say is a lot,” he said. “Numerous conference calls, sometimes daily or even multiple daily calls with Luther, preparing testimony and testifying before the ITC Commission, and then multiple meetings on the suspension agreement in Washington, D.C., and with the Department of Commerce.”
Snyder’s term ended in February at the ASGA Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., but his focus on the agreement will not.
Snyder took over the responsibility as the grower representative on the Mexican task force to oversee the administration of the suspension agreements and ensure Mexico stays in compliance.
“My role will be representing the sugarbeet growers,” he said.
Biotechnology Matters
Snyder welcomes the Sugar Industry Spokeswomen engaging consumers online and face-to-face about biotech sugarbeets.
“They are going to have a huge impact,” he said. “We are starting 20 years later than we should have, but the biotech spokeswomen are a great bunch. They all care very deeply about their families, their farms and the sugarbeet industry. No one else could represent the industry better than this group of very capable women.”
The spokeswomen who represent the 10 sugar-producing states were introduced at this year’s meeting in Scottsdale. They are the sugar industry’s educators and rapid response team to combat the misinformation about biotechnology, specifically in sugarbeets.
Working Together
Snyder finished his two one-year terms with a great deal of appreciation.
“This has been an absolutely wonderful experience,” he said. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as ASGA president and to work with the ASGA board of directors. I cannot say enough about Luther, Ruthann Geib and Pam Alther. We have the very best people representing us in D.C., of any organization. They are respected throughout the industry, the country and internationally. They have truly invested their lives to the sugarbeet industry. It’s like having a partner in D.C, who is working for the betterment of our farms every day.”
Next in Line
Galen Lee, former ASGA vice president and former chairman of the International Affairs Committee and president of the Nyssa-Nampa Sugarbeet Growers Association, was elected to his first one-year term as president on Feb. 5 and officially took over Feb. 9. Lee lives in New Plymouth, Idaho, where he grows beets at Sunnyside Farm.
“Hang on, it’s going to be an exciting ride,” Snyder said of the advice he’d offer Lee. “Your life will change after Feb. 9. The next two years may be the most challenging and eventful time in your business career. Enjoy it. We will all be looking to you for your leadership. Galen, I know you will do a great job.”
Lee is equally appreciative of the job done by Snyder.
“John is a great leader,” Lee said. “He has done a fabulous job. He’s very calm, thinks things through and looks at the big picture. I’ve got some big shoes to step into there. He set the bar pretty high. There’s going to be a lot to live up to, but I’m going to do my best.”
Lee welcomes the opportunity.
“To choose me as their leader, it’s an honor and humbling,” he said. “The ASGA board of directors is a very talented board and progressive-minded. I enjoy working with them. To be picked by them is truly an honor. I’m not going to take that lightly. I’m going to take that to heart and represent them and represent all the growers across the country for the next two years.”
Looking Ahead
Lee said several big issues are on the 2016 agenda.
“We have the farm bill coming up,” he said. “We’re looking ahead to that. It’s down the road a little ways, but we’re still thinking about it. We have to be informed about trade issues and make sure we’re getting something we can live with. Once those are in place they don’t change.
“Biotechnology is the way of the future,” Lee said. “We’ll be dealing with that all the time. Labeling issues of GMO products and nutritional labeling are right in front of us.”
Lee is confident about the role to be played by the Sugar Industry Spokeswomen.
“We’ve got the right people giving the right message and can hit the right audience,” Lee said. “It’s going to make a difference.”