Several farm groups in sugar-producing states are either opposing their national organization's support of the Central America Free Trade Agreement or taking a neutral position on the accord, and as a result are hampering lobbying efforts to assemble enough votes in Congress to approve it.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman acknowledged Wednesday at a briefing for reporters that the Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana and North Dakota Farm Bureaus have dissented from the national group's support of CAFTA.

Stallman also said he does not expect much help from state chapters in either Minnesota or Florida, each of which are major sugar-growing states. "They're not going to be banging on doors" to get CAFTA passed, Stallman said.

"Obviously it hampers us, but not to the point we're not effective," Stallman said.

While the National Association of Wheat Growers supports CAFTA, the Minnesota Wheat Growers, the Idaho Grain Producers Association and the North Dakota-based U.S. Durum Growers Association oppose it. The North Dakota Grain Growers Association is neutral.

David Torgerson, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, said all his members grow multiple crops and that those who raise sugar beets are afraid they will lose income if increased sugar imports cause a drop in price.

In addition, Torgerson said his growers do not see much benefit from CAFTA because the tariff on wheat in most Central American countries is already close to zero. As a result, although CAFTA would "lock in" those low tariffs, Torgerson said growers do not expect a big increase in sales.

The National Corn Growers Association supports CAFTA, but a Minnesota Corn Growers spokesman said after the state group's delegates voted to oppose the trade deal, its board decided to take a neutral position. The competing American Corn Growers Association also opposes CAFTA.

The National Potato Council favors CAFTA but CEO John Keeling said his growers will not let him lobby lawmakers from Minnesota and Idaho because potato growers in those states also grow sugar beets.

Keeling said he considers CAFTA a "Band-Aid" and that U.S. producers have had a hard time getting into the Canadian market under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The best hope for meaningful agricultural trade negotiations is in the World Trade Organization, Keeling said.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association favors CAFTA. NCBA Washington lobbyist Jay Truitt said he knows of no state affiliate that is opposed, although he noted some groups are only now taking a position. The South Dakota Cattlemen's Association came out in favor of CAFTA this week, he said.

But the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America opposes CAFTA.

Stallman noted that the U.S. sugar program is the last to use protective tariffs rather than farm subsidies as a means of supporting its producers. Sugar growers need to "figure out" a new program because the sugar program will "self destruct" when NAFTA allows unlimited sugar imports from Mexico in 2008, he added.

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