Maple Syrup Production Declines for Third Year

Michigan maple syrup production was estimated at 55,000 gallons for the 1998 season, 20,000 gallo9ns below the 1997 harvest, according to the Federal/State Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service. Overall, this was one of the poorest syrup years in history. The weather affected production over the entire state, "El Nino" caused sap to start flowing in southern Michigan in mid-February, more than two weeks earlier than last year. This flow then decreased due to insufficient temperature differential between night and day, and cooler freezing weather after the sap started to flow. The warm winter and early spring shortened the season. The average price received per gallon was $29.40 compared with $31.50 last year. Total value of production was estimated at $1.6 million, down 32% from last spring. Michigan ranked eighth in maple production in 1998, down from seventh last year, and produced about 5 percent of the total U.S. production.

In 1998, U.S. maple production totaled 1.16 million gallons, down 11 Percent from last year and 26 percent below 1996. The forecasted value of production is $31.5 million, a decrease of 11 percent. The U.S. estimate consists of the ten major producing States. Vermont led the U.S. in production with 360,000 gallons of syrup, down 9 percent from last year and 35 percent from1996. New York's production decreased in all states except Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, weather than normal temperatures. New York saw a major decline in the number of due to an ice storm in January. The tapping season in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin started earlier than normal, and the mild temperatures caused a poor flow of sap.

All states except Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania averaged a lower yield per tap. Overall, the tapping season, but it started more than a week earlier. Many producers in Wisconsin missed the start of the season and did not tap this year. Syrup color was medium to light amber. The sap's sugar content was slightly higher than last year for the nation but a little lower in New England. Wisconsin had the highest sugar content, followed by Maine. These preliminary prices are based on the expectations of producers when surveyed in April and May.

Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service