The Official U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2014 2nd Edition | Page 31

MICHIGAN MAPLE SYRUP ASSOCIATION + 6903 South Lacey Lake Road, Bellevue, MI 49021-8403, [phone], [email protected], www.mi-maplesyrup.com SUMMARY OF SEASON G reetings from Michigan and from the Michigan Maple Syrup Association. What a year and what a season it has been. The most often heard comment was, “This winter was more like the winters we had when I was a kid.” We had some very cold temperatures going more than thirty days without getting above freezing and nineteen days when it did not get above zero. We also had more snow here in south central Michigan than we have had in many a year. All of this followed a sever wind storm in November and an ice storm a few days before Christmas. Many folks could not get to their woods until March and even then it was extremely difficult conditions to tap. The below average temperatures continued right up to syrup season. Sap flow did not really start until mid-march which was at least 2 weeks later than normal. Here in our area the first boil was after March 15th. We had a few days of moderate sap flow, but never had any exceptional days. Sap flow came to an abrupt end by the first week of April. There were a couple of producers who taped wood lots that first week of April and had some very nice runs. These woods were ones they had previously skipped due to weather conditions. All in all most pro- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Art Currey, President Fowlerville [phone] [email protected] Larry Haigh, Vice President Bellevue [phone] [email protected] Debbi Thomas, Secretary Rose City [phone] [email protected] Arnold Hammel, Treasurer Shepherd [phone] [email protected] Fred Bates, Director Ludington [phone] [email protected] UPCOMING EVENTS [email protected] Cyndi Alexander, Director Gladwin (980 965-1912 [email protected] Cathi Bates, Newsletter Editor Ludington [phone] [email protected] Dale Forrester, Director Colon [phone] mapledalefarm99@yahoo. com Merrie & Arnie Hammel, Profile Editors Shepherd [phone] [email protected] Darren Flagel, Director Benton Harbor [phone] [email protected] Julie Crick, MSU Extension Forestry Agent County Annex P.O. Box 507 112 S. Fourth St Roscommon [phone] or [phone] Joe Woods, Director Rapid City [phone] In 2014, a new association called the Commercial Maple Syrup Producers of Michigan formed to promote, encourage, and support the sustained growth of all aspects of the Michigan maple syrup industry. PO Box 4206 - Burt Lake, MI 49717 email: [email protected] U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2014 ducers said they made less than a quart per tape. Many have said that they produced less than half a crop. In the northern Lower Peninsula producers were still boiling in mid-April. It would appear that they fared somewhat better in that part of the state. In the Upper Peninsula they are still getting snow as I write this report. They have broken many records both in total snow fall and some daily snow fall records. Sap flow did not start until about April 1st. Because of their late start I do not have any reports of production levels for the U.P. — Larry Haigh Vice President and Delegate for the Michigan Maple Syrup Association Board Meeting May 10, 2014 Big Rapids Fall Tour Sept. 20/27, 2014 Imlay City/Lapeer Membership Meeting Sept. 20/27, 2014 Board Meeting Sept. 22/27, 2014 After Tour NAMSC/IMSI Oct. 21 – 24, 2014 Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Board Meeting Nov. 8, 2014 Board Meeting Jan. 16, 2015 Hotel Doherty Annual Meeting Jan. 17, 2015 Hotel Doherty Board Meeting Jan. 17, 2015 Hotel Doherty Dodd’s Sugar Shack 1654 Dodd Rd. • Niles, Michigan 49120 New Equipment From Sunrise and Other Suppliers. Containers, Tubing & Used Equipment. Check our price before you buy! [phone] noon or [email protected] 3 1