by INFORUM
Cap-and-trade legislation ‘lethal’ to beet industry, says American Crystal exec
May 27, 2010 at 4:19 am in INFORUM
If “cap-and-trade” legislation were to move forward as currently framed, it would be the death knell to the “world-class efficient” sugar beet industry in the Red River Valley, and much of the rest of the country, a top executive of American Crystal Sugar Co. said this week.
David Berg, American Crystal’s president and chief executive for nearly three years, summed up the effect of the House version of climate control legislation and expanded on issues he alluded to at December’s annual company meeting. Continue reading…
This doesn’t just affect beets. As a country we are struggling as it is to compete with foreign competition. Now we want to put ourselves at an even larger competitive disadvantage? It’s economic suicide.
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Now before those of you who like to trash the area famers get started on here, don’t forget the millions and millions of dollars and the hundreds of jobs these sugar beet farmers bring to the area. They deserve our respect and gratitude for gambling everything they have when they plant in the spring knowing they might get little or nothing back in the fall.
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The article is missing a critical piece of information. What is the cost (per pound) of producing beet sugar and how does is compare to cane sugar produced in the US?
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I quick search shows that sugar cane is grown in the US in Florida Hawaii, Louisiana and Texas.
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Another quick search shows that the top five states that grow sugar beets are Minnesota, Idaho, North Dakota, Michigan, and California. Sugar beets are also grown in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
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You might even say that Cap’n Trade has soured their outlook on beet sugar. Ba dum dum.
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Killing American industry and shifting that production to other parts of the world isn’t the answer.
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Cap and trade would be a disaster for the whole country. Why should be limit our pollution while other countries such as China get off Scott free? You know they’re not going to participate!
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Jonathan ness – I hope you’re prepared to present evidence for your statement “Global warming is a fact folks”. Just because you and Al Gore say it, doesn’t make it true. Prove it, folks.
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I can see where this is going. This forum is not for that discussion. Please keep your comments relevant to the article.
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I have to wonder if cap and trade would have the same effect on the manufacturers of corn sweetener, or if that is easier to produce. Cargill in Wahpeton could be driven out of business as well.
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It wouldn’t be the end of the world if it did, just a shuffling of the economy and American lifestyle. It may hurt for a while, but it’s far better long term. Corn is currently subsidized so heavily that it can be bought for less than it costs to produce, that’s not sustainable in any way.
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Why do we keep subsidizing this industry? Total waste of tax payer money.
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Even Pelosi’s lackey Pomeroy isn’t voting for this dog.
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Cap and Trade…one big crap sandwich for industrial America…indeed.
Can someone try to explain to me how charging money for carbon credits will reduce or correct pollution? How does sending money to a website buy a healthier planet? If you donate to church, does it buy you into heaven? One huge thing needs to change and the head clown pushing globull warming, hasn’t proven anything other than he’s an elitist hypocrite. just how big is his carbon footprint again? There is no sign of him slowing it down either.
Are people that naive that they think businesses will shoulder that expense all by themselves? Maybe they are the same people that think that their boss pays for HALF of their payroll taxes too. DUH. Your paying the whole bill, you just don’t realize it…they withhold your portion, and “match” it with theirs…only theirs is really part of your labor costs and they have predetermined the entire expense to keep you on as an employee. If they only want to pay $50,000 a year for your entire labor cost, start deducting all the payroll taxes, employer paid benefits, etc. That number is your yearly salary, then minus out the income taxes, fed and state. TA DA. There is your paycheck.
Demand to have a higher paycheck, then watch the product price hike, demand to falter, and jobs to be cut. “Welcome to MN Unemployment, please listen to the numbers as some of them have changed.”
Follow the money…it’s always about the money and who’s account it ends up in.
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Yeah, you’re right–Social Security, Medicare, and Civil Rights were all terrible ideas. While the Republican plans of deregulating the banking industry, selling arms to Iran, and invading Iraq were all carefully considered and brilliant courses of action.
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http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/ff200-pelosichart.pdf
Oh…look over there, democrats want to cut Medicare, but they are going to give us healthcare reform. The party who touts their undying support for Medicare, took control of the helm, and launched the boat right into the fiscal storm before the bad weather report came out from the CBO. Medicare, part of the third rail of politics, won’t be cut in reality…it’s politically toxic to all those politicians who would like to get or remain in office.
It remains to be seen just how much support those cuts will garner in the near future when more and more baby boomers are jumping on the Medicare wagon at 65. I predict that there won’t be any major cuts at all…they’ll just have to figure out how to cook the figures to keep the over 55 crowd happy with the status quo.
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