Bill > S691

This bill, known as the Maple Tapping Access Program Act, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to states and tribal governments to support and expand the domestic maple syrup industry. These grants can be used for several purposes, including funding research and education about maple syrup production, promoting sustainable natural resource management within the industry, and marketing maple products. A key provision also encourages landowners to either start or increase their own maple-sugaring activities (which is defined as collecting sap from maple trees to make food) or to allow the public to access their land for such activities. The bill specifies that grant applications must detail the planned activities, expected benefits, and anticipated increases in maple-sugaring or syrup production, and it clarifies that this federal program does not override existing state or tribal laws. It also authorizes $20 million annually for fiscal years 2012 through 2015 to fund these initiatives.