AUGUSTA, Maine— Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday called out the USDA for failing to designate maple syrup as an eligible crop in the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for Maine’s approximately 557 maple syrup producers,” the governor said on Tuesday. 

Sugarmakers in the U.S. are currently ineligible for CFAP despite the industry suffering COVID-19 losses including price drops, annual event cancellations like Maine Maple Sunday and restaurant closures.  The food service sector has also dried up.

The CFAP program provides direct cash payments of up to $250,000 to farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  For example, USDA says U.S. dairy producers received nearly $667 million in direct payments through CFAP as of June 15. 

Specialty crops as obscure as rhubarb and taro have been included in the CFAP program.  The USDA has shut out other commodities besides maple but said it would reconsider “if credible evidence is provided that supports a five percent price decline,” the agency said.

That may not be too difficult to prove.

"Those that sell retail and have diversified their customer base still don't have effective access to all of the businesses that are just reopening and struggling - restaurants, small and specialty retail stores, and fairs and festivals," said Allison Hope, executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Associaton, representing the biggest U.S. maple state. "So their maple crop is still being stored onsite without the anticipated income for their season's work."

Maine is the third-largest producer of maple syrup in America with 580,000 gallons produced in 2020.

“Governor Mills’ support of our maple producing families comes at a time when it has become clear that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their market in multiple ways,” said Amanda Beal, Maine’s agriculture commissioner.

“Maple producers are clearly in need of and should qualify for CFAP relief funds and we are hopeful that the USDA will agree and make the needed adjustments to their criteria in response to the Governor’s request,” she said.

USDA is accepting CFAP applications through August 28 for just about every crop and commodity except maple syrup. Producers should inquire about eligibility and apply through the Farm Service Agency at their local USDA Service Center.