With global warming comes many affects, some negative and some positive. Warmer weather than usual this year in Maine means that maple syrup producers are expecting a bonanza of sticky goodness this season.
The Maine Maple Producers Association say that an unseasonably warm temperatures has meant that producers have been able to tap earlier and expect a longer, more productive season.
“Many Maine maple producers, particularly in the southern and central regions, had some very productive days last weekend.” said Lyle Merrifield, President of the Maine Maple Producers Association in a press release.
If you’re looking to tap some maple trees of your own in the northern regions, here are some tips to remember.
- First you want to identify a hard maple tree as opposed to a soft maple variety. You can tell a hard maple by the ridges in the bark.
- Never tap a tree less than 18 inches in diameter.
- Trees at least 18 inches in diameter can be tapped once, at least 24 inches in diameter tapped three times, and at least 32 inches can be tapped 6 taps.
- Never tap a tree more than 6 times.
- Use a 5/16th drill bit to bore a hole upward so the syrup drains downward.
- Extend the hole no more than 1.5 inches.
- Tap the hole, connect it to a tub and wait.
- Then all you have to do is boil it down and you’ve got yourself rich, delicious maple syrup.
© Fredbro | Dreamstime.com – Maple sap buckets