Maple Syrup Producers Enjoy Record Season

Wisconsin maple syrup producers had an extremely productive season this year, thanks to ideal weather conditions and a growing number of producers.

According to the U.S.Department of Agriculture, Wisconsinites produced 215,000 gallons of maple syrup, the second-highest amount produced in the state on record.

Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association Executive Director Gretchen Grape said the weather was perfect for the short production season, with warm days and freezing nights.

The number of maple trees tapped was at an all-time high, with 760,000 drilled this year — 60,000 more than last year.

Grape said there are a lot of newcomers: “A lot of your people are now producing syrup and bringing their grandchildren and others into it to learn.”

Grape said the sugar content was low in most parts of the state, but that doesn’t affect the syrup’s quality.