Courtesy Photo by James Hogge U.S. Representative Jack Bergman is seen standing with maple syrup producers in Indian River, Michigan. Bergman and Joel Johnson, Michigan’s United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) director, met with maple syrup producers to announce provisions added to cost-share reimbursement programs that will aid their restoration efforts.

ALPENA — U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) and Joel Johnson, Michigan’s United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) director, announced restoration money is on the way for Michigan maple syrup producers affected by the March ice storm.

Due to the unprecedented ice storm that began on March 28, maple syrup producers have faced challenges restoring acres of damaged maple tree stands, thousands of tree taps, and miles of maple syrup lines.

The Alpena News attended a roundtable discussion in April that included Northeast Michigan maple syrup producers, David Noonan, Michigan Maple Syrup Association president, Michigan State Senators John Cherry, D-Flint, and John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, and Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Maple syrup producers spoke about the restoration challenges they faced after the ice storm and discussed their specific needs.

Many producers at the roundtable event were interested in FSA cost-share reimbursement programs — Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) — as solutions to the widespread damage. However, program guidelines, such as prohibiting restoration efforts prior to state assessment, made necessary farm operations difficult for producers.

For context, the press release states that the ECP provides funding to restore agricultural production on land damaged by natural disasters. The ECP now includes a provision specific to the needs of Michigan’s maple syrup producers.

The EFRP, according to the press release, assists owners of nonindustrial private forest land (NIPF) with recovery efforts. Eligible plots must be at least one acre in size, 120 feet wide, and at least 10% forested.

On Saturday, May 24, maple syrup producers met again with state officials for updates regarding the cost-share reimbursement programs offered by the FSA.

According to a press release from Bergman’s office, Bergman and Johnson confirmed that the state has taken steps to provide flexibility so maple syrup producers, and others in the agriculture industry, can get the aid they need in a timely manner.

“This is about getting real help into the hands of our people. Folks who grow our food, manage our forests, and contribute to the economy of Northern Michigan,” Bergman said in the press release. “I appreciate Director Johnson’s leadership in pushing for the flexibility and federal approvals needed to make these programs work on the ground, especially for unique operations like our maple syrup producers.”

Johnson added in the press release that the provisions will speed up the aid distribution to maple syrup producers who need to act quickly.

“We requested critical flexibilities to ensure producers can proceed with recovery efforts immediately and still retain critical ECP and EFRP access in the coming months,” Johnson said in the press release. “These flexibilities include a waiver of onsite inspection to expedite determination of need and approvals of restoration work and to forego the requirement of a producer request for work starting prior to submitting an application for certain emergency non-ground disturbance activities such as surface debris removal and fence repair. Before taking any other type of action, please call your local office.”

According to the press release, Johnson said that the office has been working with federal partners to secure the waivers so that the ECP and EFRP are applied and informed by Michigan agricultural needs.

Johnson reported to The Alpena News that maple syrup producers should apply at their local county FSA office. He explained that the FSA currently has volunteers working to expedite the application processing.

Though special provisions have been approved by the FSA, recovery is still an ongoing process for many maple syrup producers.

Dale Forrester, owner of Maple Dale Farm in Atlanta, attended both the roundtable discussion in Grayling and the recent meeting with Bergman and Johnson. Forrester, whose property sustained significant damage due to the ice storm, stated that the announcement by Bergman and Johnson is good news.

“It’s too early to comment,” Forrester said. “But it looks promising.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.