COLUMBUS — Ohio’s 2008 maple syrup production is ranked in fifth place nationally compared to fourth place last year.
Ohio maple syrup production was 118,000 gallons in 2008, an increase in production of 43,000 gallons from 2007. The number of taps increased from 370,000 taps in 2007, to 395,000 taps in 2008. The 2008 yield per tap was 0.299 gallons per tap, an increase of 0.096 gallons per tap from last year.
Maple syrup collection started up Jan. 9, approximately three weeks earlier than last year’s start-up date of Jan. 31. The Ohio 2008 average season length increased to 30 days from 20 days last year.
Average prices
The average price per gallon increased $5 per gallon from the 2007 price of $34 per gallon to the 2008 price of $39 per gallon. The state’s value of production increased from $2.6 million last year to $2.9 million in 2008.
The 2008 U.S. maple syrup production totaled 1.64 million gallons, up 30 percent from 2007. The number of taps is estimated at 7.46 million, up 2 percent from the 2007 total of 7.29 million. Yield per tap is estimated to be 0.219 gallons, up 27 percent from the previous season.
Vermont led all states in production with 500,000 gallons, an increase of 11 percent from 2007. Production in New York, at 322,000 gallons, increased 44 percent from last season. Production in Maine, at 215,000 gallons, is 4 percent below 2007.
Ohio production
Production in Ohio, at 118,000 gallons, is up 57 percent from last year. This is the highest production on record since 1959, when production was estimated at 127,000 gallons.
In Michigan, production is estimated to be 100,000 gallons, the highest on record since 1964, and 67 percent above 2007. Production in Pennsylvania, at 95,000 gallons, is 86 percent above 2007. This is tied with 1992, as the highest on record since 1975, when 97,000 gallons were produced.
Production in Massachusetts, at 55,000 gallons, is up 83 percent from a year ago. This is the highest production on record since 1944. In Connecticut, production is estimated to be 15,000 gallons, the highest on record since estimates began in 1992. Production also increased in New Hampshire and Wisconsin.
Conditions
Temperatures were reported to be mostly favorable for sap flow in 2008, except in Maine and Vermont. Producers in Maine reported temperatures that were mostly too warm for sap flow, while producers in Vermont reported temperatures that were mostly too cool.
On average, the season lasted 30 days compared with 27 days last year. The longest season was reported in Connecticut at 40 days. The earliest sap flow reported was Jan. 5 in New York. The latest sap flow reported was May 10 in Wisconsin.
Sugar content of the sap for 2008, was up from the previous year. On average, approximately 39 gallons of sap were required to produce 1 gallon of syrup. This compares with 45 gallons in 2007, and 44 gallons in 2006.
The 2007 U.S. average price per gallon was $33.20, up $1.90 from the 2006 price of $31.30. The U.S. value of production, at $41.7 million for 2007, was down 8 percent from 2006. Value of production decreased in all states except Ohio.
