07/29/05 Amalgamated Sugar CEO won`t give up

Ralph Burton is optimistic about the future. The CEO of Amalgamated Sugar says it's not the end of the world now that both houses of Congress have approved the Central America Free Trade Agreement. BURTON "We were disappointed because I think we really felt it was going to close but the margin might be the other way." Burton and other sugar producers didn't want CAFTA and what they believe will be more sugar imports into the US. BURTON "We're going to continue to oppose legislation and trade deals that we feel are detrimental to our industry, to devote attention to the upcoming farm legislation, the farm bill. You have to recognize that this was a battle, not a war." Burton says he's already thinking about the future for the 12-hundred grower-members of Amalgamated that have about 180 thousand acres of sugarbeets this year, soon to be ready for processing at plants in Nampa, Twin Falls and Paul. BURTON "Times are changing. We may not look quite the same in five years as we do now." Burton says it may be a year or two before they can see what course of action needs to be taken but the shutdown of the Nyssa, Oregon plant has helped balance supply with demand. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott