Thousands of sugar beet farmers protest reforms outside EU meeting

THOUSANDS of farmers from all over Europe and from some of the world’s poorest countries protested against huge price cuts and changes in the sugar regime outside a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels.

More than 50 Irish farmers joined in the “shout for sugar” protest together with their huge three-metre tall replica of a white sugar beet.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan rejected the proposals which the commission and the farmers say will severely affect and possibly wipe out the Irish sugar industry.