New York is home to a $4 billion agriculture industry, and we’re located at the heart of one of the most productive regions in the state. While agriculture remains an important way of life here in the North Country, the number of family farms is on the decline, so we have to work fast to encourage a love of farming in our young adults and make sure they are aware that there are lucrative economic opportunities in this industry.

New York agriculture is as innovative as any other industry in this state. There are emerging opportunities all around us, especially tapping the abundantly available sugar maples throughout the state. Over the last month, I’ve been learning all about the maple syrup industry in New York, and I’ve had the pleasure to meet a great group of educators and young people in regional Future Farmers of America programs. They believe, as I do, that there is tremendous potential in maple sugaring.

Cornell University estimates that New York is using only one percent of its available sugar maples. If the state were to encourage full usage of available trees, we could increase maple production revenues from $22 million to $80 million per year. New York has the potential to surpass the world’s leading producer, Canada, which controls 80 percent of the global market.

Astonishingly, the US has to import four times its own production of maple syrup in order to meet domestic demand. Additionally, due to rising incomes in developing nations like Brazil and China, worldwide demand for maple syrup and related products is at an all-time high.

While we celebrate maple sugaring with quaint tree tapping ceremonies, we must work aggressively to ensure that the true impact of maple production is not lost on bureaucrats in Albany and Washington, DC. We must educate them about New York’s potential to become the world’s leading supplier of maple syrup.

After learning about New York’s potential in this burgeoning industry, I hope we see the passage of programs like the Federal Maple Tap Act, which would designate $20 million to the US Department of Agriculture. Additionally, it’s critical that we restore New York’s own Maple Producers program in this year’s budget. With the help of these programs, New Yorkers, especially here in the North Country, can take advantage of the abundance of sugar maples so our region – and all of New York State – can capture this unique opportunity to improve our economy.

As always, I welcome your suggestions and ideas on how to improve agriculture and other economic industries in our state. Give me a call at (315) 493-3909 or e-mail me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us.