The Sidney herald., 1957-02-14
Sugar Beet
Growers Are
Urged to Unite

~
3 Los Angeles, Calif.-A plea for
: stronger ties and closer coopera-
ton among the sugar beet grow
ers of the nation was sounded
here Friday, Feb. /, by Richard
w. Blake of Greeley, Colo.
i, Speaking as executive secretary
of the National Beet Growers Fed
Grafton, Blake told the Goth an
nual meeting of the California
Growers Association he emissions
"a sort of United Nations of the
sugar beet areas"
Joining with the above groups
would be the Western Beet Grow
ers Association of Minnesota and
North Dakota and the Farmers
and Manufacturers group of Mich
igan and Wisconsin.
1t was Blake's conviction these
four grower groups, working in
an atmosphere of continuing CO.
operation, could present a uni
fled front on problems Of a mu-
tual nature, yet feel free to solve
local problems on a local level.
Observing that the sugar beet
industry has in the past achieved
necessary revisions in the Su-
gar Act solely because Of coopera-
tive effort, Blake deplored the
tendency for the different groups
within the industry to drift apart
as soon as a crisis was averted.
Blake expressed pride in the
fact that sugar beet growers in
the % sugar producing states have
had an active part in fashioning
a sugar program which serves no
special interests.
He cited the three-fold objec-
tives of the Sugar Act as being
In the true American spirit: at
assures the consumer an adequate
supply of sugar at fair and reas-
enable prices. 1t helps to main
tain the domestic sugar industry
SO vital to the nations welfare.
And it helps to promote good
trade relations with our foreign
friends"
The Sugar Act was further des-
cribed as a monument to the
willingness of everyone in the SUI
gar industry to compromise so
that the greatest good may evolve
for the greatest number"
Referring to the nations agri-
cultural SURPRISES and the con-
FERN of SO many of us to do some
thing about them, Blake suggest
ed that "the producers of these
SURPRISES take a good long look
at the Sugar Act for inspiration F..
in attacking their own problems" ,
While recognizing inherent diff :
ferences between the situations ,
among various kinds of crops, .
expressed a firm opinion !
that the problems which exist
cannot be solved in big pack .
age, as has been attempted, by .
throwing wheat and corn and
peanuts and cotton into one big @
kettle and then attempting to 5
Drew a magical solution" s
Blake also called attention to r
he fact that the sugar beet pro-
ulcers of California and the II
'ther beet growing states. of the
n among the most eff
lent producers of sugar in the
world today.
cooperative research, exchange
f ideas, the permeating desire to
10 the job better each succeeding
ear, all have contributed to this
of eminence in the world,
Blake said.
yet all the years of work in
ttaining the marvellous produc-
i've efficiency of today would
ave gone for naught," he remind
d, IF our enemies within and
Without this country prevailed"
He recalled that industry leaders
yho sought and gained restora-
of their right to share in
heir country's growth and an OPP
ortunity to exist at a profitable
svel had to make tremendous,
ometimes awesome, decisi o n S
yhich could have everlasting eff
ects on each of the nations grow
rs.
Blake pointed to the domestic
eet sugar industry as probably
landing alone in an attitude of
onstant alertness lest it "be
by the irrational and self
attitudes of certain do
lestic groups, and the active and
fAiioAItAs0 OPPOolt1Oi1 VI
foreign interests who COW
the American sugar market.
Q other agricultural commodity
to stimulate as much in
irrational contention as that aris-
lg over sugar"
Because of this experience,
lake urged that 'the loose ties
lat bind this industry together
nd especially the growers or
mutations - be strengthened if
e are to maintain a strong posi-
on before the Congress of the
nited States and the American
lblic.
Our detectives on a material
vel are very similar in princi-
e, but if our industry is to be
on a profitable and
t~isfactory level, the growers
ust have the means for acting
unison, along with the pro-
sSing segment Of the industry"
l.. MADSEN
SPECIALIST