Wisconsin Extension Maple Syrup Program

Our Maple Syrup Program is approaching an important transition. The grant that has funded our maple syrup outreach over the last few years is ending in September, and we need your input. If you have engaged with our maple program at any point in the last 3 years, please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey: https://go.wisc.edu/vv7baf

We're looking for feedback on our past programming and your suggestions about where to go from here. Your responses will help us understand the impact of our work and determine where to focus our energy moving forward. Thank you in advance!

Join us THIS THURSDAY the 13th for our next Maple Hour! Our Pre-Season Producer’s Panel will feature a virtual round-table discussion with seasoned Wisconsin maple syrup producers ready to share their past experiences and expectations for the upcoming sugaring season. Free pre-registration required to attend: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/maplehour/.

Note that we are discontinuing use of the Wisconsin Extension Maple Syrup Program page, so please follow the UW-Madison Extension Forestry page in order to stay in touch with us!

As we reach the shortest days of the year and you gather with family for holiday celebrations, the next few weeks are a great time to prepare for maple syrup season! 🍁 Here are some things to check off your list:

✅Sanitation: double-check that your buckets are clean, and re-sanitize any that smell like mildew. If it's warm enough, you still have time for last-minute tubing sanitation, too.
✅Evaporator: assemble it soon so that you have time to order any missing parts.
✅Reverse osmosis: if you need to send in membranes for cleaning, turnaround times are faster now than in January or February.
✅Refractometers and pH meters: calibrate your tools to ensure high-quality syrup.
✅Bottles and labels: get enough for the quantity of syrup you hope to produce.

For more details, including a checklist of safety and insurance tasks, check out our recorded Maple Hour webinar from last December featuring Jim Adamski.

Preparing for the 2025 Maple Season Post updated December 13, 2024 Temperatures are falling, winter is on its way, and the 2025 maple season will be here before you know it! For last December’s Maple Hour, Jim Adamski joined us to talk about the key things you can do to prepare now. Jim runs a small commercial operation near Antigo,...

Do you have birches, walnuts, beeches, or sycamores growing in your sugarbush, or is it mostly maples? What do you think about the costs and benefits of diversifying the species in your sugarbush? Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of New Hampshire want your opinions. If you fill out their sugarbush diversification survey by the end of October, you will receive a $25 Visa gift card.

Take the survey here: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exnnKq38maDKaVM

Calling all natural resources professionals. Check out our upcoming continuing education on managing forests for maple syrup production.

Managing Forests for Maple Syrup - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point WORKSHOP DETAILS WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS Eli Anoszko, Ph.D. Vallier Treehaven Ecologist, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Eli Anoszko is the Vallier Treehaven Resident Ecologist at the UW-Stevens Point...

Curious about the management of your woodlands? There are Learn About Your Land forestry classes happening across the state this fall. Registration and information here: https://woodlandinfo.org/current-events/

In our survey of Wisconsin maple syrup producers, three-quarters of respondents said their spending time in nature motivates them to produce maple syrup, while family or physical activity motivates around half of producers and culture motivates one-quarter of producers. More than half of producers are not at all motivated by finances.

45% of respondents said they implement innovations related to maple syrup operation even if it involves risk. About one-third of respondents learn about maple syrup production mainly to increase profitability, while 14% engage in maple sugaring because most people in their community do it, and 13% do so because of family pressure.

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

Nearly half of Wisconsin maple syrup producers who responded to our survey are interested in expanding their maple sugaring activities in the next five years. A lack of time and difficulty collecting & handling sap efficiently are each a barrier to expansion for about half of producers.

Most producers are interested in adopting energy-efficient sugaring technology and increasing efficiency of collecting & handling sap, but commercial producers tend to express higher levels of interest than hobbyists.

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

In our statewide survey, we found that Wisconsin maple producers are interested in managing forest health and learning about forest health topics such as unwanted insects and diseases.

However, the majority of the woodland owners surveyed are not currently enrolled in the Managed Forest Law property tax incentive program that encourages sustainable forestry, nor do they have a written forest management or stewardship plan for the land where they tap trees.

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

If you’re interested in creating a forest management or stewardship plan, you can find a certified plan writer here: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/fal/

You can learn more about the MFL program here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/forestlandowners/mfl

In our survey of Wisconsin maple producers, we found that the most common sources of information on sugarbush management or sugarmaking are:
1) Equipment dealers and suppliers
2) Landowners/producers on the internet
3) Landowners/producers in the local community
4) Large producers
5) WMSPA

Overall, the most trusted information sources are:
1) WMSPA
2) University and Extension specialists
3) Landowners and producers in the local community
4) State foresters
5) Equipment dealers and suppliers

Among the 41 respondents with Tribal affiliations, the most trusted information sources are:
1) WMSPA
2) University and Extension specialists
3) Landowners and producers in the local community
4) NRCS
5) Wisconsin DNR

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

Our report with the complete findings from our 2022 survey of Wisconsin maple producers is now available! Check it out here: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting some of the highlights here. We received responses from 682 producers, the majority of whom have produced maple syrup for less than 10 seasons. About 90% are private landowners who tap trees in their own sugarbush. Two-thirds have a primary residence on their property, and about half own between 10 and 99 acres where they tap their trees.