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Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 9468a
- Amend and recommit to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the maple syrup assistance program
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor David J. Valesky
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A9468A
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law and the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing a maple syrup assistance program
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill seeks to grow and expand the marketing and production opportunities for maple syrup producers throughout New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
* Section 1. Amends paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 of section 301 of the agriculture and markets law is amended to include pure maple products, along with maple sap, within, the definition of crops, livestock and livestock products as it relates to the agricultural districts law.
* Section 2. Amends paragraph (d) of subdivision 9 of section 301 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that pure maple products be included in the gross sales value as it relates to the agricultural districts law.
* Section 3. Allows the Commissioner to support and encourage the production of maple syrup and pure maple products by consulting with the Department of Environmental Conservation to develop the Maple Syrup Assistance Program (MapSAP).
* Section 4. Amends subdivision 4 of section 297 of the agriculture and markets law to clarify that those projects involving maple sap and pure maple products are eligible under the Food and Industry Development Program.
* Section 5. Amends subdivision 9 of section 284 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that the Hudson Valley Agricultural Center may provide marketing and promotional support for maple sap and pure maple products.
* Section 6. Adds a new subdivision 1-a to section 9-0505 of the environmental conservation law to create the Maple Syrup Assistance Program (MapSAP). This program would be developed by the Department of Environmental Conservation with the consultation of the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Justification
What did the farmer say to the maple tree? Don't go getting sappy on me now. And you can be assured that this bill is not sappy as it recognizes the great importance of the maple industry to New York State agriculture. The maple industry has been growing tremendously for the past several years with New York State ranked 2nd in the country behind Vermont producing almost $7 million in value. There are more than 1,500 maple producers working to bring more than a quarter of a million gallons of maple syrup to tables everywhere.
What this bill does is try to sweeten the assistance to our farmers in terms of expanding their marketing opportunities and their production capabilities. This bill ensures that not only the sale of maple syrup, but also pure maple products, are counted in the gross sales value of
a farm operation for the purposes of our agricultural districts. More than that, this bill would create the Maple Syrup Assistance Program (MapSAP) in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environmental Conservation that would allow maple syrup producers to increase their production opportunities on state lands.
Over the past several years, the state has invested in our maple producers and they have delivered time and again, both legislatively and through the budget process. The passage of this bill will further grow production opportunities that will propel our maple producers in the future. When you boil all of this down, there is no doubt that New York State can become the number one producer of maple syrup in the country. When this bill is passed and sap is flowing like sweet syrup over a pancake, our maple trees will be waving their branches in approval.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.