Smokey House Center Receives $500,000 Grant to Advance Vermont’s Maple Syrup Industry Resilience
Danby, Vermont – Smokey House Center has secured a significant $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Acer Access and Development Program. This funding aims to bolster the domestic maple syrup industry through research, education, and sustainability initiatives.
The center will implement the Climate Adaptive Maple Program, a pioneering initiative that tackles the challenges of climate change in the maple syrup sector. The program will explore critical questions regarding the long-term resilience of sugarbushes—investigating how climate-adaptive forest management and sap extraction techniques affect both syrup yields and the forests’ ability to withstand climate disturbances.
Lee Allen, an expert from NC State, emphasized the pressing need for updated management guidelines as traditional practices now face pressures from increasing sap extraction, stand composition shifts, and climate variations, leaving many producers cautious about adapting their methods.
To facilitate this research, Smokey House Center will establish two research sugarbushes with around 7,000 taps. They will undertake various silvicultural treatments and sap extraction techniques to monitor vital indicators such as starch levels, sap production, tree growth, and overall forest health annually.
In addition to research, the program is positioned as an educational resource, offering field training and workshops for maple producers and foresters, alongside internship opportunities for local youth.
The initiative also seeks additional funding to study the seasonal dynamics of tree growth and carbohydrate production, ultimately aiming to develop sustainable extraction models that ensure the long-term health of sugarbushes.
For over 50 years, Smokey House Center has committed to promoting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, supporting ecological resilience and community benefits. For more information, visit www.smokeyhouse.org.
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