1
00:00:00,768 --> 00:00:02,330
- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt,

2
00:00:02,330 --> 00:00:05,202
Maple Specialist with the
University of Vermont Extension,

3
00:00:05,202 --> 00:00:07,989
and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.

4
00:00:07,989 --> 00:00:11,581
The 2020 maple season
in Vermont is underway.

5
00:00:11,581 --> 00:00:14,980
Unlike 2019 and 2018,

6
00:00:14,980 --> 00:00:18,620
the winter of 2020 has
been relatively mild.

7
00:00:18,620 --> 00:00:20,622
Operations with a large number of taps

8
00:00:20,622 --> 00:00:23,570
began tapping after the first of the year,

9
00:00:23,570 --> 00:00:26,850
and found relatively low
snow depths in the woods.

10
00:00:26,850 --> 00:00:28,883
This helped speed up the process.

11
00:00:30,010 --> 00:00:31,410
There were periods of warm weather

12
00:00:31,410 --> 00:00:34,440
that allowed for sap flow,
and some of those producers

13
00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,253
made their first syrup of 2020 in January.

14
00:00:38,140 --> 00:00:40,300
Many other producers have waited to tap

15
00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:43,563
until the forecast shows
ideal weather is imminent.

16
00:00:44,910 --> 00:00:46,150
Earlier reports therefore

17
00:00:46,150 --> 00:00:48,510
do not represent all areas of the state,

18
00:00:48,510 --> 00:00:51,210
and a complete picture of
how the season has begun

19
00:00:51,210 --> 00:00:52,642
will need to wait.

20
00:00:52,642 --> 00:00:55,893
Here are a few reports from
sugar makers around the state.

21
00:00:56,730 --> 00:00:59,020
In Chittenden County,
one operation reports

22
00:00:59,020 --> 00:01:03,313
having over 50% of their
taps done by January 24th.

23
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:05,683
The sap that has been collected

24
00:01:05,683 --> 00:01:09,283
has tested at one and a
quarter percent sugar or less.

25
00:01:10,420 --> 00:01:11,741
This operation estimates

26
00:01:11,741 --> 00:01:15,343
it has produced roughly
3% of the expected crop.

27
00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:20,420
And says early run in January
helped us tighten up the woods

28
00:01:20,420 --> 00:01:22,633
and make some good
tasting amber rich syrup.

29
00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,020
A producer in a cold
area of Lamoille County

30
00:01:26,020 --> 00:01:29,130
reports no sap flow over the last week.

31
00:01:29,130 --> 00:01:34,000
This producer had over 50% of
their taps in by February 4th.

32
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,768
A small producer in Lamoille County

33
00:01:35,768 --> 00:01:37,448
in a relatively warm area

34
00:01:37,448 --> 00:01:39,640
notes they have not tapped yet,

35
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,070
but are looking at the long range weather.

36
00:01:42,070 --> 00:01:44,179
And since it only takes two days to tap,

37
00:01:44,179 --> 00:01:45,993
they'll wait 'till then.

38
00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:49,140
In Franklin County, a producer reports

39
00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:53,400
having over 50% of their
taps done by January 13th.

40
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,508
And while no sap flowed
over the last week,

41
00:01:55,508 --> 00:01:57,348
sap was collected earlier

42
00:01:57,348 --> 00:02:00,683
and tested below one and
a quarter percent sugar.

43
00:02:01,890 --> 00:02:04,300
The syrup made so far has been dark robust

44
00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:06,453
with no off flavors detected.

45
00:02:07,410 --> 00:02:08,650
This producer estimates

46
00:02:08,650 --> 00:02:11,698
reaching about 2% of the expected crop.

47
00:02:11,698 --> 00:02:13,654
For more reports such as these,

48
00:02:13,654 --> 00:02:16,330
check out the sugaring season blog,

49
00:02:16,330 --> 00:02:17,800
the Vermont Maple Bulletin

50
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,663
by searching for UVM Maple Extension.

51
00:02:21,550 --> 00:02:22,660
This is Mark Isselhardt,

52
00:02:22,660 --> 00:02:25,650
Maple Specialist with the
University of Vermont Extension.

53
00:02:25,650 --> 00:02:28,000
And this has been another
Vermont Maple Minute.