As a result of the unseasonably warm temperatures, Wisconsin maple syrup producers are rushing out to tap trees as much as two months early.
Here’s what that means for production this year and what you should know about maple syrup and its production.
Why are maple syrup producers in Wisconsin tapping earlier this year?
The simple answer is: the weather. Theresa Baroun, executive director of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association and owner of Maple Sweet Dairy sugar bush in De Pere, said that this year’s weather has been more favorable for maple sap to produce. This has led to producers throughout the state tapping and cooking sap anywhere from a couple weeks to two months early.
What is ideal weather for maple syrup production?
“For maple sap to run, it needs to be freezing at night and above freezing during the day,” Baroun said. “With the weather we’ve had this winter, it’s been really good for maple trees to run.”
When do you usually tap trees for maple syrup in Wisconsin?
Maple month, as its known in Wisconsin, usually runs between March 15 and April 15, Baroun said. It does depend on when and where people are tapping. For Baroun, who operates a sugar bush in De Pere, they normally tap mid-February. This season, they began at the end of January.