As colder temperatures persist, maple syrup producers across New Brunswick are starting to gear up for the upcoming season.
According to Carter Stone, the director of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association and owner of Stone Maple Farms in Nackawic, the province produced approximately 1.2 million gallons of maple syrup last year.
Stone believes this year’s colder weather could be beneficial but notes that it’s still too early to predict production volumes.
He explained that colder weather benefits maple syrup production by allowing the trees to undergo their necessary biological processes.
“If we can get the frost down under the ground and keep those roots cool, it tends to help later on when it does start to warm up,” Stone said.
He added that when it becomes too warm during the daytime, you start to lose the quality of syrup resulting in lower-grade, darker syrup.
Stone said the ideal conditions involve a freeze-thaw cycle with temperatures of minus five degrees Celsius at night and plus five degrees in the daytime.
The director of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Association explained that tap start times can differ among producers across the province.
While his farm plans to begin tapping next week, he said producers in the Moncton region may start up to a week earlier, and those in northern areas might begin a week or two later.
Despite these differences, Stone emphasizes that the colder weather this time of year is normal and something producers are accustomed to.
He added that producers may face challenges such as damage from windstorms and animals, mentioning that his farm constantly sees damage to his pipes being chewed by black bears.
“This year is probably my worst year for damage and it’s all mainly from bear bites,” He said.
Stone said he produced approximately 1,100 gallons of maple syrup last year and remains hopeful for another successful season.
