The Official U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac -- 2017 Alamanc_2017 | Page 40

WEST VIRGINIA MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION 100 Fernwood Dr. Wellsburg, WV 26070, 304-737-1889, [email protected], www.facebook.com/wvmaplesyrup OFFICERS SUMMARY OF SEASON T he 2017 Maple Season was another chal- lenging year for West Virginia Produc- ers due to the warmer than average winter and spring. Producers in the lower elevations (600’ to 800’) had a very condensed season as temperatures reached the upper 70s to low 80’ in the last week of February. Producers in the higher elevations (less than 1,500’) did not see the high temperatures and were able to complete a highly productive full season. West Virginia Producers produced 9,000 gallons of pure maple syrup from roughly 61,000 taps. This was a 33 percent increase in total syrup production and a 16 percent increase in the number of taps from the 2016 season (6,000 gallons from 51,000 taps). It’s exciting to see the Maple syrup industry con- tinue to grow in West Virginia. West Virgin- ia is covered by roughly 78 percent forest, the third most forested state behind Maine and New Hampshire. West Virginia has a lot of untapped potential and opportunity for con- tinued growth in maple syrup production. Rich Flanigan, President Rich Flanigan President Wayne County, W.Va. [email protected] Mark Bowers Vice President Grant County, W.Va. mountainstreampress@ gmail.com Cathy Hervey Secretary/Treasurer Brooke County, W.Va. [email protected] EVENTS W.Va State Fair When: Aug. 10-19, 2017 Where: Fairlea, WV Info: statefairofwv.com Mountain State Maple Days Where: Statewide Maple Syrup Taps, Yield and Production: 2015-2017 Number of taps (1,000 taps) West Virginia Yield per tap (galllons) Production (1,000 gallons) 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 (NA) 51 61 (NA) 0.118 0.148 (NA) 6 9 Maple Syrup Price and Value: 2015-2017 Average Price/Gal (dollars) West Virginia 2015 2016 (NA) 48.4 Value of production (1,000 dollars) 2017 * 2015 2016 (NA) 290 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 * West Virginia Date Season Closed ** Avgerage Season Length*** 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 2015 2016 2017 (NA) 1-Jan 5-Jan (NA) 2-Apr 10-Apr (NA) 32 32 * 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). 40 U.S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2017