Maple syrup season not so sweet

Region

MICHIGAN MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION

Year — Volume

2011 — 123,000 gallons

2010 — 82,000 gallons

2009 — 115,000 gallons

2008 — 105,000 gallons

2007 — 65,000 gallons

2006 — 78,000 gallons

2005 — 58,000 gallons

2004 — 80,000 gallons

2003 — 59,000 gallons

Source: Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service

Related Photos

Jim Olds says he's slept about two hours a night, and another two during the day, while tending the evaporator at Olds Brothers Maple Syrup farm near Kingsley. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
Syrup flows from the evaporator at Olds Brothers Maple Syrup farm near Kingsley on Wednesday. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

March 15, 2012

Maple syrup season not so sweet

BY JAMES RUSSELL jrussell@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Thu Mar 15, 2012, 08:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — An early spring is a sweet treat for northern Michigan residents weary of winter, but it's leaving a sour taste in the mouths of maple syrup producers.

"I don't know if I've ever seen it so bad," said Dick Olds, of the Olds Brothers Farm in Kingsley. "It couldn't be worse. If we got any worse we wouldn't have any syrup."

Temperatures in Traverse City briefly touched 80 degrees Wednesday, shattering the previous record of 73 set in 1995. The rapid warm-up across the region is putting the brakes on maple syrup production. Optimal sap conditions require below-freezing temperatures at night and moderately warm days.

If the warming trend continues as expected, it could be a short syrup season. Farmers can't use sap after the trees start to bud.

"If we have 70 degrees for the next four to five days, it's going to be the end of us," Olds said. "At least we'll be able to watch basketball."

Olds may have a chance to keep a close eye on his March Madness bracket. High temperatures will be around 60 today, climbing into the upper 60s through the weekend. Overnight lows will only drop to the 40s or low 50s.

"Our average high is generally right around 40 degrees, so we're running anywhere from between 20 to 30 degrees above average," said Nick Schwartz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord.

The dismal forecast for syrup fans comes after a record-breaking season in 2011. The state ranked seventh in the nation for maple syrup production last year, with farmers brewing up 123,000 gallons.

"We had an exceptional year last year, above average, so I guess you take last year and this year and it's been about average," Olds said.

Tim Boonstra, a producer from Fairview in Oscoda County and member of the Michigan Maple Syrup Association, said warm weather is affecting syrup farms across the country. Consumers might see a slight bump in prices this spring, he said, but carry-over from the 2011 season and price controls should limit any significant hikes.

"It's widespread. They're facing same thing in Vermont," he said. "Normally the season would go another three weeks. Just by what we've seen, it probably won't."

The Luchenbill family has produced maple syrup at the Maple Acres Farm, near Kewadin, since 1964. Kim Luchenbill said they came away with 450 gallons of syrup in 2011, but so far this year they've only produced 25 gallons.

"With the weather warming up like it is, it's possible by the end of this week or end of next week we'll be completely done," she said.

Still, Luchenbill said she's not worried.

"We like to be able to say we made a profit at the end of the year, but the bottom line is it's family time," she said. "Part of the experience is just being able to do something as a family."