The Official U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac -- 2017 Alamanc_2017 | Page 29

MINNESOTA MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION 603 Bear Ave. North, Vadnais HeightsMN 55127, 651-429-8777, [email protected], www.mnmaple.org SUMMARY OF SEASON OFFICERS T he Minnesota 2017 syrup season was a true roller coaster ride.The season started earlier than ever: Feb. 16 statewide, leaving many producers not ready. Then a freeze up, a short run at the end of February and a freeze up and then the consistent season starting about a week into March. Our Minnesota Association spring meeting was in Two Harbors on Lake Superior on May 20. About 70 people attended reporting about 48,200 taps with a crop of 11,000 gallons. Of course many producers weren’t able to make the meeting but an estimated 5,000 tabs and 1,200 gallons were reported from some of the producers called. Results were rolling all over the place depending where the Sugar Bush was located in the state. The Northshore of Lake Superior had average crops while the east side of Minnesota further south had a split between average to poor. Our urban producers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul region reported record crops. The western edge near the prairies had one of their worst seasons. Lots of the results seemed to point that vacuum systems had higher yields. This spring, several producers tried the 3/16 tubing and were amazed with the good results. Ralph Fideldy Chris Ransom, President Vadnais Heights, MN [email protected] 651-429-8777 Shelly Carlson, Vice President St. Joseph, MN [email protected] 320-363-7784 Tony McGinnity, Secretary Arden Hills, MN [email protected] 651-295-2120 Laurie Reddie, Treasurer Buffalo, MN [email protected] 763-682-1674 Maple Syrup Taps, Yield and Production: 2015-2017 Number of taps (1,000 taps) Minnesota Yield per tap (galllons) Production (1,000 gallons) 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 (NA) 76 77 (NA) 0.184 0.182 (NA) 14 14 Maple Syrup Price and Value: 2015-2017 Average Price/Gal (dollars) 2015 2016 (NA) 65.7 Minnesota Value of production (1,000 dollars) 2017 * 2015 2016 (NA) 920 2017 * * Price and value for 2016 will be published in Crop Production to be released June 2018 Maple Syrup Season : 2015-2017 Date Season Opened * Minnesota Date Season Closed ** Avgerage Season Length*** 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 (NA) 15-Feb 12-Feb (NA) 24-Apr 28-Apr (NA) 31 30 * Approximately the first day sap was collected. ** Approximately the last day sap was collected. *** The average number of days sap was collected. Crop Production: Released June 9, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Ag- riculture (USDA). U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2017 29