Business and Labor

Business & Labor Management

About Producer Support

Being profitable with a maple business is not always easy. Fortunately, there are several organizations and programs available to support maple producers with business and financial planning, accessing loans, and finding the few grant programs to support the expansion of maple operations.

Business and Labor Resources

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maple Team: Can sit down with you to discuss your financial goals and get you pointed towards the most relevant resources.
SCORE Maine: Experienced volunteer farm business mentors.
Production Checklists: Use the Annual Syrup Production and Packaging Record (Excel) and Annual Sugaring Record (Excel) to track operations.
University of Vermont Maple Management Team: Offers extensive maple business planning modules, calculators, and templates to help you plan.

Land for Good’s Build a Lease Tool: Walk through the steps to create a solid agricultural lease.
Securing Sound Sugarbush Leases: Helpful guidance via the “Country Folks” industry article.

Contact your local USDA Service Center for more information about the following federal programs for maple producers:

Farm Storage Facility Loans: Funding for sap tanks, hauling trucks, syrup storage space, etc.
Farm Loan Programs: Includes Direct and Guaranteed Farm Operating/Ownership Loans, Direct Microloans, Direct Emergency Loans (natural disasters), Guaranteed Conservation Loans, and Direct Youth Loans (for aspiring farmers ages 10 to 20).
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Financial cost-share and technical assistance for energy efficiency (steam hoods, RO installation, etc.).
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): Cost-share assistance for creating and maintaining Sugarbush (Forestry) Management Plans.
Crop Insurance Programs: Risk management protection for your crop yield.
Tree Assistance Program (TAP): Financial assistance to replant trees lost due to natural disasters.

USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Grants and guaranteed funding for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.
Efficiency Maine Programs: Incentives to improve the efficiency of energy use, including:
- Agricultural Solutions Program
- Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Incentive Program
- Commercial and Industrial Custom Program (Includes free audits for energy reduction potential)

Agriculture Marketing Loan Fund: Helps Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve manufacturing, marketability, and production.
Maine Farms for the Future Program: A competitive grant program providing selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.
Agricultural Development Grants: Provides cost-share grants to conduct market promotion, market research and development, value-added processing, and new technology demonstration projects.

Maine Tree Growth Tax Law: Tax incentive program for managed forestland and sugarbushes.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Traditional and micro-business SBA Loans.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI): Financing and sustainable business funding.
Farm Credit East (FCE): Agricultural specialization for loans, financial advising, and support.
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME): General and agriculture-specific loan and funding programs.
Local Financial Institutions: Your local credit union or bank.

Bulletin #1060, Orienting New Farm Employees in Maine: A comprehensive checklist for Maine agricultural employers from UMaine Extension.
OSHA Emergency Action Plan Template: Safety and training resources to ensure workplace compliance and safety.

Local Municipalities: Contact your town office and neighboring town offices that serve job seekers looking for general assistance.
Maine Department of Labor (DOL) JobLink: Access a roster of potential employees matched directly to your needs.
Agricultural and Regional Job Boards:
- Farm Labor Link Network (includes other agricultural job boards just above the Training Resources section)
- Maine Food and Farming Jobs (Facebook)
- Good Food Jobs
- Farm and Food Jobs
- Maine Green Jobs
- Live + Work in Maine
Internships, Apprenticeships, and Training:
- ATTRA for posting internship opportunities.
- MOFGA Apprenticeship Program
- Maine Vocational Programs
National Agricultural Recruitment Tools:
- AgHelp: Helping Ag workers find jobs and resources nationally.
- Ganaz: Connecting “Good Growers with Good Workers” nationally.
- Local Staffing Agencies

CareerCenter: Offers Workforce Solutions that can connect you directly with job applicants.
DOL Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program: Incentives to hire individuals from targeted groups facing barriers to employment. Contact: 207.623.7981.
DOL Federal Bonding: Provides hiring incentives for at-risk and hard-to-place job seekers. Contact: 207.623.7981.
Migrant and Foreign Labor Programs: Learn about legal pathways and programs to hire migrant and foreign labor. Contact Kerry Young at DOL: 207.623.7928 or Kerry.Young@maine.gov.

Essential Maple Industry Resources

Whether you are a commercial sugarmaker managing thousands of taps or a backyard hobbyist boiling your first gallon of sap, having access to reliable, science-based information is key to a successful season. Production methods, equipment technology, and climate patterns are constantly evolving. To support your operation, we have compiled a foundational directory of top-tier maple resources, ranging from landmark reference manuals and academic research centers to regional producer networks and essential industry statistics.

North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, 3rd Ed. – The undisputed “bible” of maple production, covering everything from sugarbush management to food safety.

MapleResearch.Org – Clearinghouse of maple research
University of Vermont (UVM) Proctor Maple Research Center
UVM Maple Extension
Cornell Maple Program website
Centre Acer – Quebec’s premier maple research and development center

New England Agricultural Statistics Service – Crucial for tracking annual crop yields, pricing trends, and production data

At a Glance

Quick Links and Tools:

Key Program Contacts:

Your Local USDA Office: Primary hub for farm loans, crop insurance, and TAP disaster aid.
Maine DOL (Foreign/Migrant Labor):
Kerry Young, 207.623.7928
DOL Incentive Hotlines:
207.623.7981 (Tax Credits and Federal Bonding)

Top Funding Focuses

Equipment and Storage: Loans for sap tanks, RO systems, steam hoods, and hauling trucks.
Business Growth: Competitive grants for business planning and market promotion.

Contact

For more information or to discuss your maple needs, contact:

Jason Lilley,
Assistant Extension Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Maple Industry Educator at email
jason.lilley@maine.edu

75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.6099

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