King, Murphy, Stabenow Lead Group of Senators in Requesting Funding to Support Maple Syrup Producers

Press Release

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) led a group of senators in requesting at least $5 million in federal funding to support maple syrup producers in Maine and across the country.

In a letter to Chairman John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, the Senators highlighted the importance of the Acer Access and Development Program, which helps maple syrup producers increase production, strengthen conservation efforts, and compete in the global maple syrup economy. President Trump did not include any funding for the Acer Access and Development Program in his Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal.

"Maple sugaring provides income to an estimated 10,000 maple producers spread across the country… [and] is also a critical conservation crop, which helps to keep our forests in production, conserves important lands, protects water quality, and provides a valuable economic benefit to rural communities. U.S. production has nearly doubled in the last decade thanks to recent innovations in vacuum tubing, sanitation practices, and better taps," Senator King and his colleagues wrote. "If provided appropriated funds, the Acer Access and Development Program will greatly help these efforts and allow for further investment in research, sustainability and increased production to allow U.S. producers to better compete in the global marketplace. To ensure that this new program is successful, we respectfully request no less than $5 million for the Acer Access and Development Program in the FY2018 Agriculture appropriations bill."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine ranked third in maple production with the 2015 harvest worth approximately $15.5 million.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Margaret Hassan (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) also joined Senators King, Murphy, and Stabenow in sending the letter.

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