NAMSC/IMSI Report

By: Mary Fogle Douglass
NAMSC Delegate / IMSI Director

I recently had the pleasure of representing MMSA members at the annual meeting of the North American Maple Syrup Council and the International Maple Syrup Institute. The meetings were held during late October in Titusville, Pennsylvania. It is always interesting to come together with many of the maple industry's leaders to discuss the issues facing all of us. As always, this year's meeting was a learning experience and it was enjoyable to meet new and old friends again. Dr. Melvin Koelling, Jean Maday and Rick and Debbie Fogle were also able to attend from Michigan, as well as my husband, Greg.

Perhaps the biggest topic of this year's meetings was concern over sightings of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALHB) in the U.S., most recently in the Chicago area this past July. You may be aware that the ALHB was first discovered at two different sites in New York City in 1996. Because there are no known effective chemical or biological control methods for this pest, over 2,000 trees have been cut down and destroyed in New York City and Chicago. The ALHB or related species have been intercepted in warehouses in at least 14 other states, as well-including Michigan-though no infestation was found. The ALHB usually enters the U.S. in solid wood packing materials, such as crates and pallets.

The sugar maple appears to be a favored host for the ALHB, though they also feed on other maple species, birch, horse chestnut, willow, poplar, ash, black locust and more. There is no immediate threat to our sugar stands and infestations appear to be contained. However, this is certainly a problem that left unchecked could be devastating to our industry, as well as the beauty of our countryside.

For more information on this topic, see the last issue of the Maple Digest. The current issue contains a Joint Resolution adopted by the NAMSC and IMSI boards at the annual meeting. This resolution is in support of federal regulations that would require all packing materials from China to be treated or kiln-dried. While forestry interests are very supportive of these rulings, the import industry has been aggressive in opposing these measures that would add expense to their goods.

On behalf of the MMSA, I have sent statements of support for the ruling to the federal agency involved, as well as our Michigan U.S. Senators, my Congresswoman and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. I would be happy to share copies of those comments if you are interested, but for the sake of space, I haven't duplicated them in this newsletter. All of my comments were taken directly from the information presented in the Maple Digest and the Joint Resolution.

The other major topic of interest is the allocation of $20,000 by the IMSI to test for and combat adulteration of maple syrup. We formally adopted a "Notice of Action" at the October meetings that is also printed in the most recent Maple Digest. The IMSI is serious about keeping the world's maple products pure and all packers, of every size, honest.

On a personal note, during the course of the meetings I was unexpectedly asked to consider nomination to the Vice Presidency of the IMSI. After some thought, I agreed to accept the nomination and was subsequently elected to the position. I am pleased that Michigan will have a more prominent role in the IMSI and am honored to represent you there. Please share your comments and concerns with me so that I can represent you well in the international arena.