题目选项分析

Contrary to earlier predictions, demand for sugarcane has not increased in recent years. Yet, even though prices and production amounts have also been stable during the last three years, sugarcane growers last year increased their profits by more than 10 percent over the previous year's level.

Any of the following statements, if true about last year, helps to explain the rise in profits EXCEPT:

【选项】Many small sugarcane growers joined together to form an association of sugarcane producers and began to buy supplies at low group rates.