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pdfMaple Syrup 2012
June 13, 2012
A special “Thank you” goes to New England producers and agri-businesses who have helped us by completing the annual
Maple Syrup survey during April and May.
2012 MAPLE SEASON TOO WARM
New England (excluding Rhode Island): New England’s
maple syrup production in 2012 totaled 1.24 million
gallons, down 27 percent from 2011’s near record
production of 1.70 million gallons. Vermont remained the
top maple State in New England and the Nation, producing
39 percent of the United States’ maple syrup. Taps in New
England totaled 5.76 million, up 5 percent from last year
and accounted for 59 percent of the Nation’s maple taps.
The 2012 maple syrup season in New England was
considered too warm. A series of heat waves in March
ended the season for many, and resulted in a significant
drop in maple syrup production. An exception was Maine,
where temperatures were cool enough in top-producing
Somerset County to prolong the season until the middle of
April. Respondents across New England reported weather
conditions at 90 percent too warm, 8 percent favorable,
and 2 percent too cold. Mild winter temperatures got the
2012 season off to an unusually early start and many
maple producers were caught off guard for the first sap
runs in January and February. March temperatures were
highly volatile with a historic heat wave that brought
summer-like temperatures in the 70s and 80s across New
England. The heat wave forced early budding of maple
trees, marking the end of the maple syrup season.
Average start dates for sap collection for each State were
as follows: Connecticut - February 9, Massachusetts February 19, New Hampshire - February 24, Vermont February 25, and Maine - February 28. Average closing
dates for sap collection for each State were as follows:
Connecticut - March 12, Massachusetts - March 14, New
Hampshire - March 20, Vermont - March 22, and Maine March 28. The sugar content of the sap was significantly
below average in New England, requiring approximately 48
gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup. The majority of
the syrup produced was in the medium amber category.
Less than 25 percent of the syrup was reported in the light
amber category.
2011 PRICES AND SALES: The average equivalent price
per gallon for maple syrup varies widely across New
England depending on the percentage sold retail,
wholesale, or bulk. The 2011 all sales equivalent price per
gallon in Connecticut averaged $73.00, up $3.00; Maine
averaged $34.00, up $0.50; Massachusetts averaged
$57.00, up $0.50; New Hampshire averaged $49.00, down
$6.40; and Vermont averaged $35.00, up $1.00. The high
percentage of bulk sales in Vermont and Maine keep
average prices below the other States. New Hampshire’s
2011 price fell below the previous year due to an increase
in bulk sales. New England’s 2011 gallon equivalent price
across all types of sales averaged $36.96, an increase of
$0.94 from the 2010 price of $36.02.
UNITED STATES: United States maple syrup production
in 2012 totaled 1.91 million gallons, down 32 percent from
2011, and the lowest production since 2007. The number
of taps was estimated at 9.77 million, 2 percent above the
2011 total of 9.58 million. Yield per tap was estimated at
0.195 gallons per tap, down 33 percent from the previous
season’s yield.
All States, with the exception of Maine, showed a reduction
in production from the previous year. Most producers
reported that temperatures were too warm for optimal sap
flow. The season started sooner than last year in all States
and lasted 24 days on average, compared with 32 days in
2011.
Vermont led all States in production with 750,000 gallons,
a decrease of 34 percent from 2011. Maine and New York
were tied in production at 360,000 gallons each. Wisconsin
was estimated at 50,000 gallons, tied with 2005 as the
lowest production year on record. Maple production in New
Hampshire and Michigan was the lowest since 2007.
The 2011 United States price per gallon was $37.90, up
$0.40 from the 2010 price of $37.50. The United States
value of production, at $106 million for 2011, was up 44
percent from the previous season. Value of production was
up in all States.
2 – Maple Syrup, 2012
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
MAPLE SYRUP: Taps, Yield, and Production, 2010 – 2012
Taps
State
2010
2011
Yield per Tap
2012
2010
1,000 Taps
Connecticut
2011
Production
2012
2010
2011
Gallons
2012
1,000 Gallons
75
71
70
0.120
0.239
0.157
9
17
11
1,470
1,470
1,500
0.214
0.245
0.240
315
360
360
Massachusetts
250
245
250
0.116
0.253
0.160
29
62
40
New Hampshire
420
420
440
0.207
0.286
0.173
87
120
76
3,150
3,300
3,500
0.283
0.345
0.214
890
1,140
750
5,365
5,506
5,760
0.248
0.309
0.215
1,330
1,699
1,237
Maine
Vermont
NEW ENGLAND
1
Michigan
New York
490
495
430
0.167
0.248
0.151
82
123
65
1,903
2,011
2,070
0.164
0.280
0.174
312
564
360
Ohio
385
405
410
0.169
0.309
0.244
65
125
100
Pennsylvania
465
503
501
0.116
0.254
0.192
54
128
96
Wisconsin
UNITED STATES
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
650
660
600
0.180
0.235
0.083
117
155
50
9,258
9,580
9,771
0.212
0.292
0.195
1,960
2,794
1,908
371
410
2
2
2
2
Quebec
CANADA
2 3
34
37
346
587
*7,993
9,245
*8,745
10,281
* Revised.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
2
Canadian data incomplete; current figures were unavailable at the time of publication. Canadian imperial gallons were converted to United States gallons (1 imperial gallon equals
1.2021778 United States gallons).
3
Data may not add due to rounding.
SOURCE: United States – Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Canada, Production – 2011 Production and Value of Honey and Maple Products, Statistics Canada
MAPLE SYRUP: Production, Price, and Value, 2009 – 2011
Average Gallon Equivalent
1
Price of All Sales
Production
State
2009
2010
2011
2009
1,000 Gallons
Connecticut
Maine
2010
2011
United States Dollars
13
9
17
64.00
70.00
Value of Production
2009
2010
2011
United States 1,000 Dollars
73.00
832
630
1,241
395
315
360
32.90
33.50
34.00
12,996
10,553
12,240
Massachusetts
46
29
62
53.60
56.50
57.00
2,466
1,639
3,534
New Hampshire
94
87
120
53.50
55.40
49.00
5,029
4,820
5,880
920
890
1,140
35.10
34.00
35.00
32,292
30,260
39,900
62,795
Vermont
NEW ENGLAND
2
1,468
1,330
1,699
36.52
36.02
36.96
53,615
47,902
Michigan
115
82
123
45.00
45.00
43.80
5,175
3,690
5,387
New York
439
312
564
40.60
39.40
39.10
17,823
12,293
22,052
90
65
125
40.30
42.70
40.30
3,627
2,776
5,038
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
UNITED STATES
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Quebec
3
3
3
CANADA
3
3
92
54
128
38.10
42.00
40.00
3,505
2,268
5,120
200
117
155
36.70
39.50
36.30
7,340
4,622
5,627
2,404
1,960
2,794
37.90
37.50
37.90
91,085
73,551
106,019
464
371
410
41.42
47.42
55.29
19,220
17,594
22,667
23
34
37
39.09
45.44
47.00
899
*1,449
1,739
501
346
587
44.26
52.50
57.86
22,172
18,166
33,966
9,787
*7,993
9,245
26.93
28.94
33.12
*263,599
237,831
306,179
10,775
*8,745
10,281
28.39
30.74
35.46
*305,891
275,041
364,549
* Revised
1
Average gallon equivalent price in United States dollars is a weighted average across retail, wholesale, and bulk sales. This price is lower for States, such as Maine and
Vermont, with more bulk sales. The average gallon equivalent price is not the average retail price paid for a gallon of syrup. See page 4 for retail gallon average prices.
2
New England includes CT, ME, MA, NH, and VT.
3
Canadian dollars to United States dollars exchange rates were valued at or near the closest date to July 1 for each year. Exchange rates 0.8646 for 2009, 0.9449 for 2010, and
1.0432 for 2011. Canadian imperial gallons were converted to United States gallons (1 imperial gallon equals 1.2021778 United States gallons).
SOURCE: United States – Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Canada, Production – 2011 Production and Value of Honey and Maple Products, Statistics Canada.
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
Maple Syrup, 2012 – 3
New England Maple Syrup Production, 2012
Gallons and Percent by State
United States Maple Production, 2012
Gallons and Percent by State
Wisconsin Connecticut
Pennsylvania 50,000
11,000
96,000
3%
1%
Ohio 5%
100,000
5%
Connecticut
11,000
1%
Maine
360,000
29%
Maine
360,000
19%
New
Hampshire
76,000
4%
Massachusetts
40,000
2%
New York
360,000
19%
Vermont
750,000
61%
Massachusetts
40,000
3%
New
Hampshire
76,000
6%
Michigan
65,000
3%
Vermont
750,000
39%
New England Maple
Total = 1,237,000 Gallons
United States Maple
Total = 1,908,000 Gallons
SOURCE: Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
MAPLE SYRUP: Sales Percentages, New England, 2010 – 2011
Type of
Sale
Connecticut
2010
Maine
2011
2010
Massachusetts
2011
2010
New Hampshire
Vermont
2011
2010
2011
2010
2011
15
Percent
Retail
65
70
1
4
55
55
45
50
15
Wholesale
20
15
1
4
35
30
40
10
5
5
Bulk
15
15
98
92
10
15
15
40
80
80
MAPLE SYRUP: Sales Percentages, Other States, 2010 – 2011
Type of
Sale
Michigan
2010
New York
2011
2010
Ohio
2011
2010
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
2011
2010
2011
2010
2011
30
Percent
Retail
49
45
28
29
55
42
69
43
39
Wholesale
24
15
15
11
20
17
9
27
13
13
Bulk
27
40
57
60
25
41
22
30
48
57
SOURCE: Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Maple Syrup Production and Value
New England, 2002 – 2011
Maple Syrup Yield per Tap
New England, 2010 – 2012
1,000
Gallons
Million
Dollars
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Production
New England Maple
Total = 1,237,000
Value
Gallons
0.400
0.350
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
CT
ME
2010
MA
2011
NH
2012
VT
4 – Maple Syrup, 2012
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
MAPLE SYRUP: Retail and Wholesale Prices by Size of Containers, 2009 – 2011
Retail
State
and
Year
Half
Gallon
Gallon
Quart
Pint
Wholesale
Half 3.4 oz. 8.5 oz. 12 oz.
Half
Gallon
Pint (100 ml) (250 ml) (355 ml)
Gallon
Quart
Pint
Half 3.4 oz. 8.5 oz. 12 oz.
Pint (100 ml) (250 ml) (355 ml)
Dollars
Connecticut
2009
57.00
31.70
18.30
11.50
7.55
4.85
10.00
(D)
46.30
23.60
13.20
8.65
5.55
(D)
(D)
2010
62.00
31.70
19.60
11.80
7.70
4.50
9.20
(D)
59.00
29.50
14.40
10.70
4.90
4.10
(D)
(D)
(D)
2011
57.00
38.40
19.00
13.10
8.70
4.20
10.50
(D)
(D)
25.00
14.00
8.00
5.10
3.40
9.20
(D)
2009
52.50
28.10
15.10
9.45
7.20
3.50
7.25
9.85
40.50
25.00
13.00
7.00
4.50
(D)
(D)
(D)
2010
50.10
28.40
15.40
9.55
5.90
*4.00
9.40
(D)
42.30
26.70
13.80
7.00
4.15
(D)
6.90
(D)
2011
53.10
30.80
16.60
10.00
5.90
4.15
9.00
10.30
42.70
24.00
12.10
7.00
4.30
(D)
7.50
(D)
42.50
27.80
16.60
11.40
7.75
4.70
9.30
10.10
41.90
25.20
14.00
7.45
4.90
2.35
(D)
(D)
Maine
Massachusetts
2009
2010
53.00
26.80
17.20
10.00
6.50
3.40
(D)
9.50
44.00
24.70
14.30
8.00
5.10
2.30
(D)
7.60
2011
50.80
30.00
18.50
11.30
8.40
4.80
(D)
(D)
45.70
24.40
13.70
8.30
5.20
3.50
(D)
(D)
(D)
New Hampshire
2009
49.30
28.00
16.40
9.85
6.35
3.50
9.25
8.80
40.60
21.60
11.40
6.65
3.95
2.85
(D)
2010
49.00
28.10
17.10
9.80
6.50
3.80
9.10
(D)
45.70
25.30
13.00
7.10
3.80
2.30
3.60
(D)
2011
51.30
27.30
17.20
10.10
5.80
3.40
8.50
8.80
38.70
23.30
13.20
8.20
4.60
(D)
(D)
(D)
2009
43.90
25.50
15.50
9.20
6.00
3.85
8.60
12.60
38.50
23.20
13.40
7.80
4.80
2.25
6.45
6.15
2010
43.30
25.50
15.70
9.70
6.20
3.80
7.50
12.00
37.00
23.10
12.80
7.60
4.60
3.50
6.20
(D)
44.70
26.20
15.70
9.70
5.90
3.40
8.30
(D)
39.40
23.90
13.70
8.10
5.00
3.00
7.40
(D)
42.70
21.80
12.70
7.80
5.60
35.40
21.00
11.20
6.30
4.20
Vermont
2011
Michigan
1
2009
2010
42.00
22.60
12.90
7.80
5.10
34.10
21.90
12.40
7.60
4.50
2011
45.50
24.60
13.70
8.40
5.20
33.80
23.00
12.60
7.30
4.50
2009
40.10
24.10
14.90
9.40
6.25
38.30
22.30
12.30
7.00
4.25
2010
42.80
24.00
15.00
8.90
5.35
40.70
22.20
12.20
7.30
4.20
2011
44.70
25.00
15.60
9.40
6.05
37.50
22.70
12.50
6.90
4.75
2009
37.70
22.10
13.40
8.35
5.55
35.90
21.20
12.60
7.55
5.25
2010
40.50
23.00
13.90
8.50
5.95
34.30
21.20
11.30
7.55
4.05
41.70
24.90
15.10
8.90
6.80
36.00
22.70
13.10
7.90
5.00
38.00
21.70
12.70
7.90
4.90
32.20
17.90
10.20
6.20
4.10
New York
1
1
Ohio
2011
Pennsylvania
2009
1
2010
39.70
22.70
13.70
8.25
5.45
40.30
19.20
11.60
6.55
4.05
2011
41.00
23.20
13.90
8.00
5.00
35.90
21.90
12.70
6.90
4.00
2009
37.30
21.10
11.30
7.30
4.70
37.30
23.80
11.80
7.20
4.00
2010
38.10
21.50
11.80
7.50
5.70
37.30
21.60
12.00
7.20
4.60
2011
39.00
23.50
12.30
7.40
5.30
40.30
23.50
11.90
6.70
4.10
1
Wisconsin
* Revised.
(D) Data not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
1
Retail and wholesale price for 3.4 oz. (100 ml), 8.5 oz. (250 ml), and 12 oz.(355 ml) container sizes are only available in New England States.
SOURCE: Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
Maple Syrup, 2012 – 5
MAPLE SYRUP: Bulk Prices by Grade, 2009 – 2011
State and Year
Grade A
Light Amber
Medium Amber
Grades B and C
Dark Amber
Dollars per Pound
All Grades
1
Connecticut
2009
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
2010
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
2011
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
2.85
2.85
2.85
2.65
2.85
Maine
2009
2010
3.00
3.00
2.90
2.70
3.00
2011
2.90
2.90
2.85
2.60
2.90
2009
2.85
2.80
2.70
2.50
2.65
2010
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
2.55
2011
2.85
2.70
2.55
2.30
2.50
2009
2.80
2.95
2.80
2.50
2.75
2010
2.90
2.90
2.75
2.40
2.65
2011
(D)
2.80
2.60
2.30
2.65
3.00
2.95
2.90
2.65
2.90
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Vermont
2009
2010
2.75
2.75
2.65
2.35
2.65
2011
2.80
2.80
2.70
2.35
2.75
Michigan
2
2009
2.80
2010
2.80
2011
2.60
New York
2
2009
2.73
2010
2.71
2011
Ohio
2.64
2
2009
2.70
2010
2.55
2011
2.70
Pennsylvania
3
2009
2.70
2010
2.45
2011
Wisconsin
2.57
2
2009
2.60
2010
2.60
2011
2.70
(D) Data not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
1
For dollars per gallon: multiply dollars per pound by 11.02 pounds per gallon.
2
Grades A, B, and C price per pound is only available in the New England States.
SOURCE: Crop Production, June 12, 2012, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
6 – Maple Syrup, 2012
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
Sugar Maker Comments by State
CONNECTICUT - Should have tapped in early February.
Temperatures in February were better for sap flow than the
warm/hot spell we had in March. No sugar content on trees
farther uphill. Good season that just ended 2 weeks too soon.
Too warm at night. If we didn’t start sugaring a month early this
season would have been a total loss. Very strange weather.
Syrup quality good but turned dark quickly. Short season with no
frost and limited few runs. Should have tapped beginning of
January. It was a warm winter here in Connecticut and I am glad I
did not tap. Too warm weather in February. The winter that
wasn’t – not enough frost in the ground and not enough sugar in
the sap. Bad year as sap did not run. Temperatures were warm
enough in mid-January for sap, so we lost approximately 2 weeks
of potential sap flow. No real periods of cold temperatures in
February. We experienced dry holes early and re-tapped new
trees. Short season and low production. Warm very early. Best
season ever attributed to tapping early and good vacuum. Never
had frost in ground. Never had clear sap and got extra dark
syrup.
MAINE - Weather was extremely variable in my area, but
generally too warm. The third week of March was way too warm.
Week of 80 degree weather ended our season. March too warm,
sap color off, and very few tanks of sap were clean. No good runs
all season. Week in the 80s ended it. Good early start but a very
early end. This year used only one tap per tree regardless of
size. Very rare to get the right temperature conditions. No snow
and no frost. I wish I had tapped in January. The best weather
happened in January but no trees were tapped. The season
looked promising, then record temperatures in mid-March
brought it to an end. Good weather returned but too late. Worst
season ever. Too warm at first but ended a good season. First
part of sugaring was too warm. Last part was too cold. Started
with 2.5 feet of snow in the woods and melted away fast. Started
too warm and didn’t make any light syrup. Ended good on crop
total. At first it was too warm but turned cold and had a good
crop. Five 80+ degree days stopped sap flow. Two good weeks
to follow with no production. Warmed up too quickly and nights
not nearly cold enough. Extremely warm weather brought trees to
bud very early, then had better weather after pulled taps. Sap ran
early and light with high sugar content at first. Due to the mild
winter, our season started 2 weeks earlier and ended 3 weeks
earlier than last year. The trees in our area, southern Maine,
began to bud in the middle of March. Too hot in middle of
season. The season unfortunately was much too short. Three
weeks in March had 70+ degree temperatures which ended the
season. Weather was too cold early in season, followed by two
good weeks, then too warm at the end. Strangest year in 23
years, weather-wise. Trees budded out earliest ever with two
very nice weeks for sap after our trees quit. Too warm alternating
with too cold. One spell of hot weather spurred bud growth early.
Season started early but sap flowed slowly. It became very warm
in mid-March which ended the season. Low sugar content. Not
good with five days of 70 and 80 degree weather.
MASSACHUSETTS - Having good season until second week in
March, then warmed up and didn't get any more sap. I still set
buckets and that seemed to be a benefit this year. It seemed it
was warm enough to run in the buckets when the tubing was still
frozen. We started one week earlier than ever before and should
have started even earlier. Season started real early and stopped
after a week of 70 degree weather. Sugar content very low.
Season about one month early - February was March – and
conditions were good. Started three weeks early. There was no
frost in ground and a warm spell in middle of season. The
weather turned too warm during the third week of March. Started
early but slow and had good sugar content but ended very early.
Sap flow started and ended early. Started two weeks early.
Ended three weeks early with 70 degree temperatures in midMarch. Perfect conditions for sap flow prevailed in early to midMarch: warm days and cold nights. Lack of snow cover made it
easier to tap trees and collect sap. Then after mid-March came a
prolonged warm spell with temperatures near 80 degrees and not
going below 32 degrees for several nights. It was warm very early
– unexpectedly – so the season was short. Got warm very quickly
and stayed warm. Too warm in March. Not a very cold winter.
Should have set taps by February 1. Winter was a lot warmer
than usual with little snow cover. Warmed up earlier than usual
but temperatures were favorable. If we started two weeks earlier,
we probably would have made the usual amount of syrup. Set
taps early but it was too cold at night and when it warmed up it
got too warm. This year started three weeks early, went good for
four weeks and stopped. The season started early, then it
warmed up with no frost or rain for about two weeks. High
elevations were too warm. Tapped two weeks early on 6 inches
of packed snow, very little snow during season which ended 2-3
weeks earlier than normal. We really made all of our syrup
between March 15-30 but pulled taps on March 16. One for
record book but what syrup we made was excellent quality.
Shortest season in 35 years in this bush. The syrup this year was
excellent flavor, very clear and smooth taste.
NEW HAMPSHIRE - Good runs while it lasted. Almost half of
syrup made was done by end of February. Snow left too quick,
very warm. Hot spell in mid-March stopped the season short. If
not for the spell, the season would’ve lasted until April 1 as usual.
Five days in the 80s in mid-March shut it down even with checkvalve spouts. Perfect weather after heat wave, but didn’t bring
back anything worth boiling. Worst year ever. Season started
about right, within a week it warmed up way too much and the
season was over. Worst season on record. Missed early runs in
February. Third week of March at 80 degrees. Trees budded at
1,200 feet elevation and future sap was commercial. Fast and
furious for over two weeks while some lots did not produce much
at all. Low sugar content left us little choice to not boil with high
oil prices. Season started early this year and went very fast.
Earliest ending in memory, 2011 season was one month longer
than 2012. Shortest season in my 40 years at this. Basically a
two week season. Season started early and ended early. We had
good quality syrup from what we gathered, but it was a less than
average season overall. Sap never really ran – dark color of
syrup. Stayed too warm, causing bacteria to grow in spouts,
contaminating tap hole. Season was very early for us. Not cold
enough at night. Started out good then warmed up far too hot and
when the weather straightened out, the buds were out. The five
days of summer in mid-March did us in. Only had two good sap
runs. Toughest season in over 55 years of sugaring in New
Hampshire. Record high temperatures in mid-March. No snow for
tapping, extremely warm temperatures mid-season that killed the
season. Ninety degree temperatures ended season. Started out
good, but had a sad ending. The only good news is I saved a lot
of wood. Got two good runs but a week of very unseasonably
warm weather stopped our sap flow. Fourth week in March and
first week in April were almost perfect sugar weather. Very
possibly if we had retapped we might have had an above
average season. Sap ran off and on at winter.
VERMONT - The long warm spell of 10 days in March induced
early budding. The temperature was initially too cold for the sap
to run, then just way too hot and this forced the trees to bud.
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
Temperatures were warm without freezing nights, but sap flow
was high and ran continuous even with temperatures in the 70's.
Bacteria levels preventing filtering & boiling issues meant
dumping sap. Early budding led to stoppage of season even with
continued sap flow. Sap quality improved as weather cooled, but
too late. Season started early and we tapped as early as we
should have. I made the worst flavored syrup I have ever made
this season. Sap that flowed after March 21 was rancid. Season
ended abruptly with two weeks of 60+ degree temperatures. The
hot week in March ended our season. Sap flow after that was
good but syrup produced from it was unmarketable. The weather
warmed up too much in mid-March for sap to run. The worst year
I ever had. Flow was normal until a stretch of 80 degree days
when sap flow stopped. Excellent quality and flavor. Syrup was
generally darker from start to finish. In 2011, I didn’t make syrup
until March 11, this year I was all done on March 13. Little snow
cover and poor sugar content. Warm weather in mid-March
brought season to an abrupt stop. Color went from medium
straight to grade B. Because of weather, I did not sugar. Worst
year ever. Grade dropped rapidly from fancy to dark. Sap kept
running but the trees had buds. A week of 70+ degree weather
Maple Syrup, 2012 – 7
accelerated budding of maples, affecting sap flow and quality.
By the end of warm week in March, sap kept running but
dropped to 0.5 to 0.75 percent sugar content. March heat
waves ruined the season. Early season had excellent
weather, color, and taste. Stayed warm many days in a row.
Without vacuum, production would be little or none. Record
breaking heat wave in mid-March ruined the sugar season. Too
warm to make good syrup of any quantity. Exceptionally warm
weather in March killed our season just as it was getting started.
Sugar content and flavor dropped like a rock when warm weather
persisted. After the heat wave, although the weather became
seasonable and conditions were right for sugaring, the sap was
cloudy and we couldn’t filter it. Mother Nature didn’t cooperate.
Never seen it so hot in mid-March. The very beginning was good,
then it just got too warm. If you didn’t tap in the middle of
January, you missed half of your crop. Good quality syrup but
warm weather allowed only five good runs. No freezing in midMarch for two weeks. During the very warm weather we lost all
the snow that we had. Short season but with good quality. The
season was short, but sap flow was plentiful during that brief
window thanks to high vacuum.
Coming This December
2012 Census of Agriculture
8 – Maple Syrup, 2012
Gary R. Keough, Director
Statistician: Hernán Ortiz
USDA, NASS New England Field Office
Alexander I Slosman, Editorial Assistant
Ty Kalaus, Deputy Director
Statistician Assistant: Joyce Supry
This is a summary of New England agricultural statistics taken from national Crop Production release nationwide reports issued by USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service, June 12, 2012. The New England Field Office can be reached at 1-800-642-9571 or through e-mail at
[email protected]
All national reports and state newsletters are available on the Internet at: www.nass.usda.gov. These reports are also available by subscription free of
charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS home page at www.nass.usda.gov locate the syndication section at the bottom of the right
hand column, under receive reports by E-mail, click national or state, then follow the instructions on the screen.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - 2012 Maple Letter .docx |
| Author | slosal |
| File Modified | 2012-06-14 |
| File Created | 2012-06-14 |