Wisconsin ranks fourth in the United States for maple syrup production, producing 402,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2023.
That’s down from 443,000 gallons, according to the Association of Maple Syrup Producers .
This year’s warm weather has caused maple syrup producers to tap their trees early and if the trend of warm weather continues it could impact how much is syrup is produced.
At Hawthorn Hallow in Kenosha, as you enter the property, you’ll notice a row of maple trees already tapped for the season.
The warm temperatures in February have led Kailyn Palomares and staff here to tap their trees earlier than ever in Hawthorn Hallow history.
“By February 1 we were tapping as well so I am paying attention to the weather constantly,” said Palomares, a naturalist and education manager.
Typically, the season starts in late February or early March and in order for the tapping process to begin, a couple of factors need to be just right with the weather.
“That freezing and thawing is causing kind of a pressurized system within the tree, causing the sap to flow up and then back down and that is where we’re getting our sap in our buckets, is through that flow,” said Palomares.