Maple syrup producers concerned about a sticky season

John Nyman and his son Shea, 6, show off the lines they will tap into their maple trees sometime in the next few weeks. The warmer weather this winter will likely negatively affect the amount of maple syrup produced by farmers like Nyman. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

By Rhea Munroe

With lots of warm weather and very little snowfall, maple syrup producers are wondering what tapping season will bring for them this year.

Since it’s been such a warm winter, some producers say they have started to tap early because the sap is running sooner than expected.

Frank Haveman, owner and operator of Bata Maples Sugarbush in Frankford, explained that the ideal daily conditions for the sap to run are around -5C during the night and 5C during the day, a process referred to as freeze and thaw.

“In the fall, the sugar is stored in the roots, and in the spring, it heads back up to the buds,” said Haveman.

Todd Leuty, maple syrup specialist for the Ontario ministry of agriculture, food, and rural affairs, said the sugar is converted and stored as starch and acts as food for the trees during the fall and winter season. By late winter, the freeze and thaw activates the enzymes and it is converted into sucrose. The root pressure pumps it back up the tree and it becomes food for the buds.

“Producers don’t follow the calendar; they follow weather predictions to determine when the sap will flow,” said Leuty.

Haveman predicted that it won’t be the best of syrup seasons because of the warm weather.

John Nyman, owner and operator of JC Nyman Farms in Picton, said it’s hard to tell what will happen with tapping season.

“We really have no idea yet. We really haven’t ever had a year like this before to ever compare it closely,” said Nyman.

“Nature could decide that this could be another perfect year and we’ll have ideal conditions and have a great season,” he said.

Nyman said, however, that the conditions are great for working in in the forest.

“You can take your mitts off and get something done and not freeze to death.

“It’s not a usual or normal season. There’s been (little) snow cover in southern Ontario and the soil could dry out. We need lots of moisture in the soil,” said Leuty.

Producers said they are worried about the uncertainty that maple syrup season will bring. Despite the ideal working conditions, Nyman said he would much prefer traditional winter weather.

Nyman also expressed his concerns about global warming – that climate change will soon have a major affect on where maple trees can thrive and produce sap.

“It takes a 1,000 years and tons of data to see a change in the climate,” said Leuty. However, he said that they are being cautious about the change in the climate that has been determined so far.

He is predicting a northward shift of sugar maples and areas where tapping will be done in the future.