I think it is safe to say we all are sick of winter. Yes, I said it.

Truthfully, the spring thaw couldn’t come soon enough. It is nearly maple season – March is maple month. I always look forward to the start of maple season and the fun community events held in our region. As I have said in the past, maple has great economic potential in Northern New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Our area is teeming with sugar maples. The Northern New York Maple Project (NNYMP) estimates that only one percent of the roughly 300 million sugar maple trees in our region are being tapped. If New York increased its tapping of sugar maples to match the levels in Vermont, a modest 2.94 percent, the state could realize an additional $600 million in revenue.

Cornell has other data indicating that New York alone could help this country outpace the highest global producer of maple products, Canada. Our friendly neighbors to the north control 80 percent of the global market, a market where consumer demand is increasing. There is great potential in sugar maple production in New York. It would translate to serious job and economic contributions to the state and, most importantly, our region.

This is exciting news. While I am encouraged, I do not understand why the governor always tries to eliminate funding for Maple Producers in his Executive Budget, a portion of his more than $8 million worth of cuts to agricultural and markets programs. In my estimation, maple production in New York could have a major impact on the health of our rural communities and economy.

It is disheartening that year after year agriculture is a target for the governor’s cuts. Fortunately, over the last several budget cycles, my legislative colleagues and I have been able to restore funding for these critical programs.

I will be encouraging my legislative colleagues to fight the governor’s cuts to agriculture. In the meantime, show your support by visiting local maple producers and events. On March 21, I will be at a maple tree tapping at Moser’s Maple in Croghan, and on March 29, I will be at the annual tree tapping and pancake breakfast hosted by the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Future Farmers of America Maple Market. Please join me or find additional events near you at the Maple Weekend Website.