Schumer seeks to raise maple syrup output

ALBANY -- A measure proposed by Sen. Charles Schumer to promote New York's maple syrup industry is headed to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Senate last week as part of the 2012 Farm Bill approved Schumer's legislation to create grants to encourage private property owners to expand their tapping operations or to make trees on their land available for tapping.

Cornell University researchers have said producers tap less than 1 percent of available maple trees in New York.

Schumer says nearly three quarters of the tappable maple trees in New York are on privately owned land.

The House is expected to take up the Farm Bill next month.

-- The Associated Press