TwinBay
03-12-2012, 08:37 PM
Maple Production Agriphone Report - March 12, 2012 Sap flow summary March 4 to 11
The sap collection and syrup processing season is now finished for many producers in early southwestern Ontario regions. Buds on sugar maple trees in early areas began to break dormancy over this past week to impart off-flavours in collected sap. Most producers in early southwestern regions ended their season with 40 to 80 percent of an average crop reported. Producers who caught the earliest sap flows report 1.1 litres of syrup per tap and just over 100 percent of a normal crop as a final count.
In later areas of central, eastern and northern Ontario, several good sap flows were collected during the week on Thursday March 7 and again over this past weekend. Sap flowed very heavy on Sunday and continues to flow at the end of the week. Producers report light, medium, amber and dark grades of syrup were produced depending on the sugar bush and the location, all having excellent maple flavour. Grey/Bruce and Lanark producers have produced 30 to 50 percent of an average crop so far and sap collection continues. Several feet of snow remains in central Haliburton and Kawartha area sugar bushes, which will help to maintain colder nighttime temperatures and encourage more sap flows.
Extended forecast for March 12to March 18
Sap continues to flow today Monday March 12 in most southern areas of the province from a heavy sap run which began early Sunday morning. Many producers were boiling throughout the night to keep up with sap flow.
The long-term weather forecast on March 12 predicts temperatures will remain above freezing with warmer spring-like conditions for all southern areas of the province, which may end the sap collection season for southern area syrup producers. Syrup producers in northern areas of Parry Sound, Algonquin and Algoma regions could have another sap run on Thursday of this coming week, where nighttime temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing Wednesday night.
Day time temperatures will be above freezing and rather warm for this time of year. Warm daytime temperatures will cause the buds on maple trees to starting breaking out of winter dormancy towards an early spring. When dormant buds begin to swell and elongate, any sap collected will no longer be suited for processing into syrup. The off-flavour is referred to as 'buddy' and syrup will not have the typical maple flavour. Buddy sap should be discarded. In northern areas of the province, the buds on sugar maples will likely remain dormant for the coming week however, the weather is not expected to bring significant sap flows.
The sap collection and syrup processing season is now finished for many producers in early southwestern Ontario regions. Buds on sugar maple trees in early areas began to break dormancy over this past week to impart off-flavours in collected sap. Most producers in early southwestern regions ended their season with 40 to 80 percent of an average crop reported. Producers who caught the earliest sap flows report 1.1 litres of syrup per tap and just over 100 percent of a normal crop as a final count.
In later areas of central, eastern and northern Ontario, several good sap flows were collected during the week on Thursday March 7 and again over this past weekend. Sap flowed very heavy on Sunday and continues to flow at the end of the week. Producers report light, medium, amber and dark grades of syrup were produced depending on the sugar bush and the location, all having excellent maple flavour. Grey/Bruce and Lanark producers have produced 30 to 50 percent of an average crop so far and sap collection continues. Several feet of snow remains in central Haliburton and Kawartha area sugar bushes, which will help to maintain colder nighttime temperatures and encourage more sap flows.
Extended forecast for March 12to March 18
Sap continues to flow today Monday March 12 in most southern areas of the province from a heavy sap run which began early Sunday morning. Many producers were boiling throughout the night to keep up with sap flow.
The long-term weather forecast on March 12 predicts temperatures will remain above freezing with warmer spring-like conditions for all southern areas of the province, which may end the sap collection season for southern area syrup producers. Syrup producers in northern areas of Parry Sound, Algonquin and Algoma regions could have another sap run on Thursday of this coming week, where nighttime temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing Wednesday night.
Day time temperatures will be above freezing and rather warm for this time of year. Warm daytime temperatures will cause the buds on maple trees to starting breaking out of winter dormancy towards an early spring. When dormant buds begin to swell and elongate, any sap collected will no longer be suited for processing into syrup. The off-flavour is referred to as 'buddy' and syrup will not have the typical maple flavour. Buddy sap should be discarded. In northern areas of the province, the buds on sugar maples will likely remain dormant for the coming week however, the weather is not expected to bring significant sap flows.