A spoonful of sugar can always make things better, but a heaping spoonful of campaign contributions can be sweeter.

As Congress continues to try to pass a farm bill,  including a subsidy for the sugar industry, the political action committee of one of the largest sugar cooperatives in the country is moving more campaign contributions to members of Congress who sit on the committees that handled the legislation, and who have immediate access to the farm bill negotiators who have resumed negotiations this week.

The American Crystal Sugar Company PAC reported it gave out $121,500 to candidates and committees during October. From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, the PAC had given $1,052,499 to candidates and committees, with 59 percent going to Democrats.

During October the PAC gave $5,000 to Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee.  The PAC also gave to members of the House Agriculture Committee, including $7,500 to Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.; $2,500 to Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.; $2,500 to Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Ill.; $10,000 to Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas; $5,000 to Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn.; and $5,000 to Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala.

The PAC also gave $10,000 to Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. Another Appropriations member, Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., received $5,000.

Ways & Means Committee member Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., received $5,000.

House Judiciary Committee members receiving funds included Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif. ($10,000); Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. ($10,000); Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas ($4,000); and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga. ($2,500).

Others receiving contributions in October included Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. ($5,000); Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif. ($2,500); Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif. ($5,000); Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif. ($10,000); Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif. ($2,500); and Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-Calif. ($10,000).