Chuck Schumer Wants To Beat Canada At Maple Syrup

Don't worry, New York, maple syrup is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it prevents cancer...or we just tell ourselves that to justify eating it by the spoonful. (Everyone does that, right?) According to Senator Chuck Schumer, New York state has more sugar maples than Quebec, and he is renewing his efforts to make the state "global leaders in the maple industry."

The Maple Tapping Access Program Act was introduced in 2009 and didn't go far, but Schumer thinks he'll have the opportunity to attach it to a five-year farm bill Congress is in the middle of drafting. The bill would provide grants and incentives to people with sugar maples on their private land to open them up for tapping. About 68% of New York's maples are on private land, but Schumer estimates the bill to bring in $82 million in revenue from syrup and other maple products. Schumer said, “Passing this bill would provide a sweeter future for our maple farmers across Upstate New York." Watch out Markowitz, Schumer is blowing up your spot.

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By Jaya Saxena in Food on April 4, 2011 3:26 PM

Comments [rss]

mistermarkdavis

He's only doing this to distract away from his super secret PPW street redesign position.

The_Real_Hambone

If I remember the 2009 bill correctly it was less about access than it was about subsidizing a factory to process the sap. Perhaps instead of Pork Barrel spending we should call it sap bucket

Gothampc

Except Mayor Bloomberg won't allow maple syrup to be served in New York.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_...

randomtransplant

Too late. I think it was Vermont which already invented maple vodka.

Guest

Is this anything like Manifest Destiny?

BottomlessChips

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.
Forced volunteerism?

Schumer is all about control and power. We all knew that, but this is a microcosm of his bigger agenda.

randomtransplant

Uhm you do know that people will be getting paid for their sap, right?

If his 'bigger agenda' means literally growing money on trees, I don't see what the problem is.

BottomlessChips

So what if they're getting paid?

It's their property, not Schumer's. He should have the decency and respect not to pressure them into this. Furthermore, it reeks of protectionism.

TimeDown

It says voluntary. They can choose whether or not to allow access to the public in exchange for cash. Seems like a win-win to me.

BottomlessChips

You're missing my point. Proposing the bill creates a problem for their businesses. Schumer will go on about "for the greater good" meanwhile, what the hell does he know about the maple syrup business? Maybe this small mom and pop operation is on the margins and now has to look like the bad guy for not volunteering.

Furthermore, it's politician blackmail at its finest. You "volunteer" for this, and we will bump you to the front of the line come grant time. A recipe for corruption! At the very least, it's big government at its best. Have a small taste of government (grant money), you'll come back for more. When you do, we'll impose more of our control over you. It's all about control and power. Schumer should but out.

Maple syrup is a good. If I want some, I will either buy it in a store or buy my own land in upstate NY, VT, or wherever.

TimeDown

That's a reasonable criticism. I don't know enough about it to argue one way or the other. I would actually like to know more about it from the people who it directly effects, i.e. the owners of the land.