Killing the Sugar Program on Halloween?</

Oct 31, 2012

Coalition for Sugar Reform Sees Halloween as an Opportunity to Win Support for their Position on the U.S. Sugar Program

Halloween is being used to make political gaines as the Coalition for Sugar Reform sent out a release on Wednesday calling the U.S. sugar program “one of the last Depression-era ghosts.” The coalition is comprised of “candy-makers” and is attempting to win over their target audience – consumers.They argue that the U.S. sugar program is costing consumers $3.5 billion a year through higher food prices for products that contain sugar and that food processing jobs are taking a hit.

The sugar program protectionist policy designed to protect sugar beet and sugarcane farmers by restricting imports on sugar. However, the American Sugar Alliance disputes this argument by arguing that removal of the sugar program would leave the U.S. dependant on imports. The sugar program is a part of the expired Farm Bill, which is up for another five year renewal. Support for ending the sugar program has been gaining momentum since 2001 when the Farm Bill appeared before Senate, where 46 Senators voted to end the sugar program and 29 senators voted in favour of the program.

The coalition group who hopes to bring about reform on the sugar program saw Halloween as the prime opportunity to communicate their message that the sugar program only benefits farmers and acts as a hidden tax for American consumers every time they want a sugary treat!

Video: Did Bears Win Thanksgiving, Will Bulls Get Christmas?

Did the bears win Thanksgiving (although this week had green on the screen), and will the bulls get Christmas? Bears won thanksgiving thanks to a USDA Nov crop report dud that stalled the bullish grain momentum for a brief period. But a bullish lower yield surprise in the Dec crop report could reignite the rally.
2026 U.S. winter wheat planting is nearly complete at 97% while crop conditions improved by 3 points to 48% good-to-excellent. US corn & soybean harvest is complete.
High corn demand, which is off the chart, and more Chinese soybean demand could support a Christmas rally.
Nasdaq had it’s worst November since 2011.
A U.S. Fed rate cut in December will help fund flow and sentiment.
Bitcoin held a long-term support at 80,000 and that's positive for fund flow and sentiment. It should help stock prices and Ag as we go into December.
Fertilizer prices continue to climb as we look ahead to 2026. Farmers may rely more on the nutrients that they already have in their soils.
South American Weather remains critical as the soybean reproductive stage starts from late Nov to late Feb depending on planting date.
Will a Russia-Ukraine peace deal happen by year-end?
CFTC data as of showed more managed money fund sell-off as of October 14th.