Despite a relatively short sap run, it was a good year for in-state maple syrup production.
New York's 2009 maple syrup production increased 10 percent from last year. Syrup production is estimated at 362,000 gallons, up from 328,000 gallons in 2008, according to Stephen Ropel, director of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service field office in New York.
Locallly, Philip Ashe, of Pumpkin Hollow Maple in Davenport, said he actually produced more syrup last year. He said he bottled 340 gallons this year compared with more than 400 gallons last year.
"For a year that warmed up as fast as this one did, we did extremely well," Ashe said.
Production can vary immensely from one area to another, he said.
"I remember one year, when a producer in Otego said he was having such a terrible year he pulled his taps, and that same year we were going gangbusters," Ashe said.
Richard "Doc" Stanton of Delhi said he produced about the same amount of syrup this year as last year.
"I made quite a lot of light syrup, and the quality was good," Stanton said.
Producers in the North Country reported an above average season but dry conditions. Elsewhere around the state, producers had an average season. Temperatures started out too cold and quickly turned too warm. Most producers, however, agreed that the syrup had excellent flavor.
Ashe said that there is generally a six-week maple season in Delaware County, but this year the season was contained to March, and there were not more than 20 days that the sap ran.
Ashe said he has 1,200 taps, and the most syrup he has ever made in one day was 60 gallons.
Statewide, according to USDA data, the number of taps, 1.51 million, increased 4 percent from last year. Syrup produced per tap averaged 0.240 gallons, up from 0.227 gallons in 2008.
The final value of the 2008 crop is $13.9 million, 82 percent above the previous year's value of production. The average price was $42.40 per gallon equivalent for all sales.
Sugar content across New York this year was lower than last year, the USDA said, and sap quality was good. Medium syrup accounted for 46 percent of production, with 45 percent dark and 9 percent light.
Ashe said when people talk about sap quality, they are really talking about taste, which has a lot to do with the amount of sun exposure the trees receive during the year.
Ashe and Stanton both said that forest-tent caterpillars and eastern-tent caterpillars have been a concern the last few years.
"Last year, they just about defoliated our sugar bush, although the trees did grow another batch of leaves," Ashe said. "We had hoped they would be gone this year, but there are still a lot of them around."
Stanton said the hail storm Monday knocked most of the leaves off of his maple trees.
"I guess the tent caterpillars won't have to work so hard to get to the leaves because they are all on the ground," Stanton said.
Nationally, 2009 maple syrup production totaled 2.33 million gallons, up 22 percent from 2008 and the most since 1944.
The number of taps was estimated at 8.65 million, up 4 percent from the 2008 total of 8.33 million, while the yield per tap was estimated to be 0.269 gallons, up 17 percent from the previous season.
Vermont led all states in production with 920,000 gallons, an increase of 30 percent from 2008. Production in Maine, at 395,000 gallons, increased 65 percent from last season.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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