Well I know that we’re in the thick of growing sugar beets, speaking figuratively and literally of course, and growers are receiving a lot of positive attention in that far off place called Washington, D.C. Support for U.S. sugar policy is at an all time high on Capitol Hill - with lawmakers in the Senate and the House showing overwhelming approval of the 2008 Farm Bill in bipartisan fashion. In the Senate - the 30-member Sweetener Caucus has been essential in building such wide support. Senator Mike Crapo is one of the caucus co-chairs and here’s what he had to say in a recent conversation. “The sweetner caucus is one of the more successful caucuses in the U.S. Senate. It’s a bi-partisan group of senators representing both sugar beet and sugar cane producing states. The leadership of the caucus is also bipartisan and divided between sugar beet and sugar cane producing states. We’re able to advocate for sugar producers.