[20180515]IF10689_农场法案入门：Sugar计划.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated May 15, 2018Farm Bill Primer: Sugar ProgramCongress reauthorized the sugar program in the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79) with no changes from the version it authorized in the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246), making it an anomaly among major commodity programs. The U.S. sugar program also stands out compared with other farm bill commodity programs in that it combines a price support feature with a supply management structure that limits both sugar production for domestic human use and imports. The objectives behind this market intervention are to support domestic sugar prices without incurring budgetary costs to the federal government while also ensuring that adequate supplies of beet and cane sugar are available to sugar users. A significant development that occurred after Congress reauthorized the sugar program is two bilateral agreements with Mexico that limit imports of Mexican sugar. These exist outside of the sugar program but have had significant implications for the sugar market, as Mexican sugar represents a significant share of U.S. sugar needs. Four Pillars of the Sugar Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employs four basi