Farm Bill Passes — “The House passed the Farm Bill on December 16 and President Reagan signed the bill into law on December 22.
    “The bill sets up a four-year support program with support loan rates of 17 cents a pound on raw sugar for the 1982 crop, 17.50 cents a pound for 1983, 17.75 cents a pound for 1984, and 18 cents a pound for 1985.  Program terms are designed to result in operation of the system without any cost to the Treasury.

    “Between the date of enactment of the bill and October 1, 1982, when price support loans will go into effect, the Agriculture Department will support the market by announcing an offer to purchase sugar processed between the enactment date and March 30, 1982, at a rate of 16.75 cents a pound.  No actual purchases are considered likely, however, because the government would be seeking, by use of import fees, to keep market prices above the level at which producers could sell to the government.
    “On December 23, import fees and duties on sugar were raised sharply by Presidential proclamation.  The increases totaled 2.8 cents a pound, . . . bringing total charges levied on imported raw sugar to almost a nickel a pound.”

    Southern Minnesota Co-op Honors Growers -- “Top producers for the Southern Minnesota [Beet] Sugar Cooperative were honored at the cooperative’s annual awards banquet on Dec. 11 . . .
    “In the Bird Island district, Casey Rouse won the award for growers under 200 acres with an average yield of 20.84 tons and a total of 5,275 pounds of sugar per acre.  In the over 200 acre category, Gerald Elfering took the honors with 20.24 tons and 5,295 pounds of sugar per acre.
    “The Hector district had the following top producers: In the category under 200 acres, David Karl produced 22.45 tons and 6,514.56 pounds of sugar per acre; Robert Kiecker took the honors in the over 200 acre category with 18.82 tons and 5,138.96 pounds of sugar per acre.
    “Claiming honors in the Redwood Falls district was Oswald Jordan with 17.6 tons and 4,805.33 pounds of sugar.
    “Factory district honors went to the following: 0 to 190 acres saw Kenneth Abbas as the winner with 19.68 tons and 5,360.9 pounds of sugar per acre.  Gunval Knudson produced 17.72 tons and 4,828.99 pounds of sugar per acre in the 191 to 275 category.  In the 276 and up category, Kenneth Wacek had 19.40 tons and 5,287.99 pounds of sugar per acre.”

    Link Reelected President of Minn-Dak Farmers Co-op -- “James Link, Wahpeton, North Dakota, has been reelected president of the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative at [the] annual organizational meeting of the Wahpeton beet sugar cooperative board of directors.  Also reelected to another term of office were: Earl Davison, Tintah, Minnesota, vice president; Ray Hudson, Colfax, North Dakota, secretary; and Alvin Hansen, Baker, Minnesota, treasurer.