- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist,
with the University of Vermont Extension,
and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.
The recent period of expansion in the maple industry
has seen both established operations grow
and many new operations start from scratch.
Some real estate listings of land
include estimated potential taps,
but how many of those taps
are actually economically feasible to collect from?
What are the important questions to ask
before making an offer on a parcel?
There was a time when the number,
size, and density of tappable trees
were the most important consideration for a sugar maker
looking to purchase more property.
Traditionally, a sugar house would be
centrally located on the sugar bush
so as to lessen the distance traveled when hauling sap.
While the number one consideration
when looking at a parcel of land is still the trees,
sugar makers today often find themselves faced
with several other important aspects of the property
before making an offer.
Some of the more common issues facing modern sugar makers
are access to power, quality of existing road network,
distance to improved road, and topography.
Like most real estate transactions,
it comes down to an issue of value.
In other words, does the asking price fairly reflect
the value of the parcel for the purchaser's intended use?
This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist,
with the University of Vermont Extension,
and this has been another Vermont Maple Minute.