FOX44NOW.COM - Burlington/Plattsburgh News, Weather and SportsVt. Sugar Makers Have Mixed Feelings About Expansion Proposal

Vt. Sugar Makers Have Mixed Feelings About Expansion Proposal

Some Vermont syrup producers say Congressman Peter Welch's new proposal to expand production sounds good but could lead to long-term problems.

Welch's plan is to get lawmakers in Washington D.C. to consider giving sugar makers $20 million in federal grants to tap trees on state lands. An industry maker says it should help sugar makers who need the extra property.

The problem is tapping too many trees could lower and hurt the price of maple syrup.

"Going to be like the milk production," sugar maker Tom Howrigan says. "It's going to be too much and not worth nothing."

A couple of producers say they like the support from the state's congressional delegation. They're not sure, Welch's proposal will get the support it needs.

"There's a lot of people expanding but it really hasn't gotten to the point where people are talking about it," sugar maker Dave Beebe says.

Beebe and Howrigan say they will watch what's going on in Washington D.C. Howrigan says he would like to see government money go to promoting maple products overseas.

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