New York State Had a Great Maple Year

New York state maple producers rebounded from last year's horrendous season to have a top notch production year in 2013.

According to figures releases Wednesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Services, New York maple producers made 574,000 gallons of syrup in 2013, up from a dismal 360,000 in 2012. Production in 2011 was 564,000 gallons and that was considered a phenomenal year. 

The large increase mostly is due to a longer season this year and the fact that producers drilled more taps.

If everyone remembers, the maple season in 2012 was a disaster. Temperatures rose too fast, shutting down the flow of sap. The weather during maple season 2012 began fine in January. But by early February, temperatures rose into the 50s. In mid-March, when sap should still be flowing and syrup would normally still be made, temperatures hit near 70. 

This year, temperatures stayed just about where they should be -- with daytime temperatures in the 40s and night temps below 32 degrees. There were a couple of days when it got a little too warm, but then it got cold again, so the trees did not bud and shut down the sap run.

The average length of season in 2012 was only 24 days, from  Feb. 21 to March 16, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. In 2013, the average length of season was 42 days, from Feb. 27 to April 9.

New York ranks second in the country in maple syrup production. Only Vermont produces more. Its producers made 1.32 million gallons in 2013. Maine comes in third with 450,000 gallons of syrup.

Nationally, maple syrup production in 2013 totaled 3.25 million gallons, up 70 percent from 2012. 

In 2012, prevailing high temperatures limited sap flow. The number of taps is estimated at 10.6 million, 8 percent above the 2012 total of 9.77 million. All maple producing state states showed an increase in production from 2012.

 
Maple value
Most recent figures for value of maple syrup production in New York:
2005: $7,037,000
2006: $8,020,000
2007: $7,638,000
2008: $13,907,000
2009: $17,820,000
2010: $12,293,000
2011: $22,052,000
2012: $15,550,000

2013: Unavailable*
*Figures will be available June 2014.
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service