A sapbucket at Newton's Sugarbush. Photo: Todd Moe
(12/29/11) Many North Country Maple producers can now tap into a new loan fund to help them increase the amount of syrup they produce. The Development authority of the North Country, or DANC, set up the program after several studies showed most maple trees in the area aren't being tapped. That means producers are missing out on a lot of potential revenue. Nora Flaherty has the details.
The microenterprise loan program is open to maple producers
in St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson Counties.
Jim Wright is executive director of DANC. He says there are
very few full-time maple producers—most are dairy farmers who do maple
production as a sideline. And that means when times are tough for dairy, increasing capacity
can make a big difference. "If by doing
this we can make it easier for those in agricultural production to expand
capacity…some of the problems dairy farmers encounter," Wright said.
DANC will make low-interest-rate loans to maple producers of
up to $40,000. The loans can be used for anything connected to collecting and
producing maple syrup. They have to be repaid within five years. Wright says the
loans will benefit the regional economy as well as producers. "It’s pretty
straightforward, there’s not anything magical about it…growing the region. We think
that’s a good mix for everyone."
DANC will work with county cooperative extensions to review
loan applications—and they’ll be looking at them on a first-come, first-served
basis. The total loan fund is $200,000.
St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
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