Maybe, when the Endangered Species Act comes up again, Congress should add sugar farmers to the list.

Everything, including the weather, seems to be working against this segment of the agriculture industry.

Sugar farmers say they favor free trade. They want the World Trade Organization to ratchet down tariffs, quotas and subsidies worldwide, including their own. But, they say regional trade agreements such as CAFTA are putting them at a competitive disadvantage against other nations, especially Brazil, which has defeated the Florida citrus industry and now is has become a sugar superpower.

They also are targets of the greens. Environmental groups have been trying to run the sugar industry out of Florida for years, notwithstanding the fact that the industry is a good neighbor, is well ahead of schedule at reducing phosphorus from water draining from its farmland, and is more productive, efficient and com- petitive than ever.

The hurricanes that just crisscrossed the center of the state drenched the cane fields and knocked down some of the crop. Fortunately, the storm water control system worked, and much of the excess water was diverted to the ocean.

In light of the obstacles, the industry is examining alternate uses of its land. Recently, U.S. Sugar began a small mining operation and it is looking at other options, although it says it plans to be the last one standing if the industry goes down.

No one will be the winner if this industry is lost to Florida.