Syrup Production Tapped by Weather
State College, Pa. -- AccuWeather.com reports maple syrup producers in the Northeastern part of the country faced paralyzing blizzards this winter, inhibiting the tapping of some trees.
The colder-than-average temperatures into early March prevented up to 2 feet of snow from melting in places like Meadville, Pa., which is located near the heavy lake-effect snow city of Erie.
It became impossible for syrup producers to make it into the woods, and in many instances tappers got stuck even when using ATVs or snowmobiles to maneuver. Some producers chose not to tap this season, but others did so later than usual.
"We tapped much later into the season than is normal for us," said Clair Grove of Groveview Farm in Hesston, Pa. "After the second February blizzard, the roads were shut. We just couldn't make it into the woods."
The tapping season, which generally begins in February and wraps up no later than the beginning of April, was pushed back significantly for tappers, many of whom are just getting started.
Several producers haven't been successful, and many found the problems involved with the late start lie within mother nature's grip on the weather.
Freezing nights and warm days are needed to induce sap flows in maple trees, but temperatures too cold can be troubling.
"A hard ground freeze in January, accompanied by a snow buffer of several inches kept the ground insulated," said Donald Russell, owner and operator of Russell Maple Farm in Rome, Pa. "The roots were just frozen too hard for the sap to flow."
However, in some cases the March warm up prevented temperatures from getting cold enough at night.
The Northeast felt warm temperatures beginning in early March and extending through the middle of the month. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s were common through Pennsylvania and even into New England during the week of March 15.
Most Northeast tappers expect this maple syrup season to be lackluster, but they are not allowing it to stop them enjoy the upcoming syrup festivals.
"We'll be attending some festivals and teaching classes about tapping, but we won't be selling our syrup there," said Grove.
The production is about half of what it was last year for Groveview Farms. Last year 170 gallons of syrup was produced, compared to only 97 this year.
Russell Maple Farm in eastern Pennsylvania also had significantly less syrup production, producing only 30 percent of last year's amount.
Maple syrup production is most concentrated in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, with Quebec the number one producer of the world's supply of syrup.
Traditionally, maple syrup is harvested by tapping a maple tree through the bark and into the wood, then letting the sap run into a bucket.
The sap is then boiled down in sugar houses where the final product is created.
The colder-than-average temperatures into early March prevented up to 2 feet of snow from melting in places like Meadville, Pa., which is located near the heavy lake-effect snow city of Erie.
It became impossible for syrup producers to make it into the woods, and in many instances tappers got stuck even when using ATVs or snowmobiles to maneuver. Some producers chose not to tap this season, but others did so later than usual.
"We tapped much later into the season than is normal for us," said Clair Grove of Groveview Farm in Hesston, Pa. "After the second February blizzard, the roads were shut. We just couldn't make it into the woods."
The tapping season, which generally begins in February and wraps up no later than the beginning of April, was pushed back significantly for tappers, many of whom are just getting started.
Several producers haven't been successful, and many found the problems involved with the late start lie within mother nature's grip on the weather.
Freezing nights and warm days are needed to induce sap flows in maple trees, but temperatures too cold can be troubling.
"A hard ground freeze in January, accompanied by a snow buffer of several inches kept the ground insulated," said Donald Russell, owner and operator of Russell Maple Farm in Rome, Pa. "The roots were just frozen too hard for the sap to flow."
However, in some cases the March warm up prevented temperatures from getting cold enough at night.
The Northeast felt warm temperatures beginning in early March and extending through the middle of the month. Highs in the mid-to-upper 60s were common through Pennsylvania and even into New England during the week of March 15.
Most Northeast tappers expect this maple syrup season to be lackluster, but they are not allowing it to stop them enjoy the upcoming syrup festivals.
"We'll be attending some festivals and teaching classes about tapping, but we won't be selling our syrup there," said Grove.
The production is about half of what it was last year for Groveview Farms. Last year 170 gallons of syrup was produced, compared to only 97 this year.
Russell Maple Farm in eastern Pennsylvania also had significantly less syrup production, producing only 30 percent of last year's amount.
Maple syrup production is most concentrated in the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada, with Quebec the number one producer of the world's supply of syrup.
Traditionally, maple syrup is harvested by tapping a maple tree through the bark and into the wood, then letting the sap run into a bucket.
The sap is then boiled down in sugar houses where the final product is created.
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