Maple Syrup Production Report

Crop Protection Guide for Nursery & Landscape – 2016 version

by Jen Llewellyn,  Nursery and Landscape Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario Maple Syrup Production Report

Sap harvest and syrup processing activities – April 9 to 15, 2016

It has been a long and rewarding maple syrup season across all Ontario this year for many producers.  Sap harvest in southern areas, west to east, has now finished.  Many central and mid-season areas are also finishing up their processing season during this past week and previous weekend.  Fresh sap is still being harvested April 14 in north areas of Grey / Bruce, Haliburton and Lanark & District counties.

Ontario Maple Syrup Production Report

Sap flow activities and maple syrup processing – April 2 to 8, 2016

In Ontario, the maple syrup processing season has shaped up to be a fantastic year for syrup quality and yield, with a full range of colour grades and flavour intensities. Sap harvest and syrup processing will continue for a week or two more.  The trees in sugar bushes are transitioning out of dormancy now and will begin growth over the coming weeks as temperatures warm up.

Ontario maple syrup production report

Sap flow and maple syrup processing activities – March 26 to April 1, 2016

Overview: The flavour and clarity of maple syrup this year is reported by producers as outstanding and of very high quality.  The syrup season has ended now in early southern regions.  Many maple syrup producers are satisfied after processing close to an average normal yield or more, including all colour grades.

Central and northern regions had a very busy week, many reporting record-breaking sap volume and seeing darker colour grades now. At least one or two more weeks of sap collection and syrup processing is expected in northern areas of Ontario.

Ontario maple syrup production report

Provincial overview for March 20 to 26, 2016: This past week sap harvest has now ended in early areas, while producers further north are still collecting fresh sap and boiling this year’s maple syrup crop.  Across Ontario, maple syrup producers report very nice maple flavours this year, typical of each colour grade for consumers and bulk buyers to choose from.

The current weather system (Thursday & Friday) of snow in the north and freezing rain and ice pellets in the south is causing ice accumulation on trees in some regions. Watch carefully if you are out in the sugar bush for falling limbs and chunks of dislodged ice.

Ontario maple syrup production report

Sap harvest and syrup processing activities – March 12 to 18, 2016

Over the past week in Ontario, maple syrup producers in most regions have been diligently boiling fresh sap into syrup as the 2016 sap harvest season progresses. It is still too early to estimate the final syrup yield for most areas.

Ontario Maple Syrup Production Report

Sap flow activities and the syrup crop – March 5 to 12, 2016 

Ontario maple syrup producers have been very busy this past week keeping up with a number of good sap flows and boiling the new maple syrup crop.  Maple syrup production has been tricky this year, with such mild conditions and reduced snow cover in many areas.  Long standing producers who keep detailed records of dates, temperatures and sap flow events at their operation, utilize these past accounts to help them make decisions.