On behalf of America’s sugarbeet and sugarcane family farmers, and the workers who process those crops into sugar, Michigan sugarbeet farmer Adam Herford issued the following statement on the retirement of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI):
“For more than two decades, Chairwoman Stabenow has served as a vital partner to Michigan’s farmers, always willing to lend an ear and advance solutions to the challenges faced by agriculture. As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she leveraged her deep understanding of rural America and farm policy to advocate for all of America’s farmers and ranchers.
“As a fifth-generation sugarbeet farmer, maintaining a strong U.S. sugar policy in the Farm Bill is vital to the survival of my farm. Chairwoman Stabenow never wavered in her support for America’s sugar industry, helping our farmers and factory workers drive an annual economic impact of more than $23 billion. We are grateful for Chairwoman Stabenow’s service.”
In Michigan alone, sugarbeet farming and sugar production supports 14,327 jobs and generates $1.52 billion annually.