“The food and beverage manufacturers would like changes in the sugar support program that make it less restrictive [for them],” said economist Tom Earley of the consulting firm Agralytica. “There was a provision added to the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills that limits the Secretary of Agriculture’s ability to adjust a number of imports until halfway through the marketing year (which corresponds to the fiscal year). Basically, we go through half the year without enough sugar in the system and uncertainty about how much sugar is going to be imported.”

READ MORE