WASHINGTON - Emphasizing the economic importance of the U.S. maple syrup industry, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) led a group of senators in calling for funding of the Acer Access and Development Program, which supports the growth of maple syrup production. In a letter addressed to Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Chairman Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Ranking Member Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the senators emphasized that the Acer program is essential to protecting the U.S. maple sugar industry. Maple sugaring is a source of income for over 10,000 producers in the United States, and maple is an important conservation crop that provides environmental and economic benefits to rural communities.


“The maple industry has shown significant growth in recent years. … The Acer program provides the opportunity for further investment and research to support farmers, increase production, strengthen conservation, and help drive efficiency,” the senators wrote. “We are pleased that the committee has previously provided support for the Acer program and grateful the committee was able to provide an increase for this program in [Fiscal Year] 2018. If again provided appropriated funds, the Acer Access and Development Program will continue to support maple producers and allow for further investment in research and production to allow the U.S. to better compete in the global marketplace.”

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Angus King (I-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) joined Murphy in signing the letter.

Full text of the letter is available online and below:

Dear Chairman Hoeven and Ranking Member Merkley:

We write to ask your support for the Acer Access and Development Program, which supports the growth of the U.S. maple syrup industry. To ensure this program’s continued success, we respectfully request no less than $5 million for the Acer Access and Development Program in the FY2019 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

Maple syrup is an important agricultural product across 10 states in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. According to the USDA, in 2017, the United States produced more than 4.27 million gallons of syrup, worth approximately $147 million. Maple sugaring provides income to an estimated 10,000 maple producers spread across the country. Maple 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.

The maple industry has shown significant growth in recent years. U.S. production has nearly doubled in the last decade thanks to recent innovations in vacuum tubing, sanitation practices, and better taps. Furthermore, between just 2015 and 2017 maple syrup production grew by nearly 840,000 gallons. The Acer program provides the opportunity for further investment and research to support farmers, increase production, strengthen conservation, and help drive efficiency.

We are pleased that the committee has previously provided support for the Acer program and grateful the committee was able to provide an increase for this program in FY 2018. If again provided appropriated funds, the Acer Access and Development Program will continue to support maple producers and allow for further investment in research and production to allow the U.S. to better compete in the global marketplace.

We understand that in the current fiscal climate budgets are constrained, which is why we are asking the Committee to fund this program at only $5 million, one quarter of its authorized amount of $20 million. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to working with you to support this important domestic agricultural product.

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy
Debbie Stabenow
Angus S. King Jr.
Margaret Wood Hassan
Jeanne Shaheen
Richard Blumenthal
Elizabeth Warren
Edward J. Markey
Gary C. Peters
Tammy Baldwin
Bernard Sanders
Kirsten Gillibrand