Maple Tap Act

[220 maple]

As Dr. Tim has said many times they (USDA) will probably never release any money for the Maple Tap Act! I've got a great idea. Let's rename it! My suggestion is Acer Access and Development Program 2017, sounds more official don't you think? Maybe we can fool them into releasing a couple dollars to the Maple Producing States. Dr. Tim do you think a new name will help?

Mark 220 Maple

[maple flats]

If that's the long name, you need to call it AADP. You might better come up with a name so the initials will be the acronym M.A.P.L.E.
It might even go faster if you can name it THE S.M.A.R.T. ACT. Maybe "Save Maple in America R? T?"

[Moser's Maple]

More like the "Untapped Act". :lol:

[220 maple]

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise We received, Oh better correct that right now, We being West Virginia Dept. of Ag, WVU Davis School of Ag. and Forestry and the West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Assoc. was awarded one of the three Acer Access and Development Grants 2017 to the tune of 203 thousand dollar, my sources in low places tell me this is the Maple Tap Act monies rebranded? Might be fake news? By the way congrats to Vermont and Iowa for receiving the other two Grants.
Then just for the fun of it the WVMSPA received a Specialty Food Block Grant for 17600 dollars, planning something big with that money, neighbor states will benefit also. Nothing like Maple Producers getting together, looking each other eye to eye and sharing info.

Mark 220 Maple

[DrTimPerkins]

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2017AcerDescriptionOfFundedProjects.pdf

Basically it was the "Maple Tap Act", but was officially known as the "Acer Access & Development Act", which was written into the 2014 Farm Bill. $20M was approved, but no funding was made available until FY2017, when $1M was appropriated.

It all happened quite quickly this summer. RFP came out, proposals due 4 weeks later, awards announced about 6 wks after that. Work to start immediately.

[tbear]

Dang! Iowa got one of the grants? How darn cool is that! Ted