Maple Tree Tapping Project
Introduction
Maple syrup is a significant agricultural commodity in the United States (U.S.), valued at approximately $171.56 million with a total of 5.03 million gallons produced in the year 2022 (USDA NASS, 2022). Maple syrup production timing and yield vary significantly among years and regions depending heavily on climatic conditions. Expanding syrup production outside the northeastern U.S. to western states and exploring alternative tree species for syrup production could help meet the ever-increasing demand for syrup in the U.S. while sustaining this important industry. Bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum) and boxelder (Acer negundo) are native to the Intermountain West and Great Plains, and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and other non-native maple species are common in the urban and suburban areas of the region. Birch (Betula spp.) and walnut (Juglans spp.) trees are also popular in the region. Although there is great potential to tap these tree species for syrup production, very little Extension or research has been conducted to help advance this incipient industry. The overall goal of the following projects is to spark the development of a robust syrup industry in the Intermountain West and Great Plains.
Publications
2021 Acer Access and Development Program: Developing a Maple Syrup Industry for the Interior West Through Extension and Research
- Educate hobby producers and non-producing landowners in Montana, New Mexico, and Utah about maple sap collection and syrup production through targeted Extension programs.
- Determine sap yields of bigtooth maple, boxelder, and Norway maples in the Intermountain West using traditional buckets/bags and natural gravity-based 3/16" tubing systems.
Project Team
Youping Sun
Kelly Kopp
Darren McAvoy
Steven Price
Paul Harris
Jesse Mathews
Richard Heerma
Rolston St. Hilaire
Mike Farrel
Patrick Kelly
Michelle Sagers
David Knudson
2022 Acer Access and Development Program: Developing a Maple Syrup Industry for the Interior West Through Extension and Research (Phase II: Expansion)
- Educate hobby producers and non-producing landowners in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming about maple sap collection and syrup production through targeted Extension programs and to develop an annual Maple Festival for the region.
- Determine sap yields using traditional buckets/bags and natural gravity-based 3/16" tubing systems for tapping bigtooth maple, boxelder maple, and other maples in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming.
Project Team
Kelly Kopp
Youping Sun
Darren McAvoy
Steven Price
Paul Harris
Abby Porter
Bracken Henderson
Brian Michael Sebade
Abby Perry
Mike Farrell
Patrick Kelly
Michelle Sagers
2022 Acer Access and Development Program: Exploring the Potential of Oklahoma Native Maple Species for Syrup Production.
- Determine the sap production potential of the five maple species in Oklahoma based on geographic location, method of sap collection, and tree species and size.
- Educate potential maple syrup producers and landowners who wish to use their woodlots for maple syrup production.
Project Team
Lu Zhang
Mike Schnelle
Lu Zhai
Bob Heineman
Yanwei Sun
Youping Sun
Mike Farrel
Partick Kelly
Michelle Sagers
2023 Acer Access and Development Program: Sustaining maple syrup industry under a changing climate through expanding research and extension in the United States
- Mapping maple tree distribution and potential production in the Northeast, Midwest, and/or Intermountain West regions through remote sensing technologies.
- Predicting and projecting temperatures and their impacts on maple syrup yield using high-resolution climate model outputs in the Northeast, Midwest, and/or Intermountain West regions.
- Engaging tribal communities in the maple syrup industry in South Dakota and sustaining the maple syrup industry in Utah through extension and education activities.
Project Team
Wei Zhang
Youping Sun
Man Li
Hanuki Zhang
John Ball
Mike Farrel
Amy May
Dustina Gill