Maple Syrup On Tap At Senate Ag Committee Meeting

ALBANY, 02/10/15 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) today welcomed New York State Maple Producers President Dwayne Hill to the senate agriculture committee’s first meeting of the year.

“It was great to have one of my constituents, Dwayne Hill, on hand to open the first senate agriculture committee meeting of the 2015 legislative session,” said Senator Seward.  “I have visited Shaver-Hill Maple Farm, and, of course, enjoyed the superb products Dwayne and his family make and have been a longtime advocate for the Maple Producers Association.”  

Along with serving as president of the New York State Maple Producers Association, Hill also owns and operates the family-run Shaver-Hill Farm in Harpersfield.  Hill outlined the recent expansion of the maple industry in New York State and also discussed the importance of state funding to help spark future growth.

In recent years, Senator Seward has helped lead the fight to add state funding to the state budget to support the Maple Producers and help market other New York grown products.

“Maple syrup is New York’s own liquid gold and producers are finding so many innovative and unique ways to incorporate this farming mainstay into more products.  We need to ensure that New York State continues to encourage growth in this key agricultural specialty,” Seward added.

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Photo attached, from left: Senator James Seward, New York State Maple Producers President Dwayne Hill, and Senator Patty Ritchie, chairman of the senate agriculture committee.