After a horrible season last year, maple syrup production rebounded this spring. The National Ag Statistics Service says production in the U.S. this year totaled 2.794 million gallons, up 43 percent from the 1.96 million last year and above the 2.4 million gallons in 2009. There were 3 percent more taps this year, 9.58 million but yield-per-tap improved 38 percent to 0.292 gallons per tap. The big difference was the weather; the season ran 32 days this year compared to 23 last year and many say the temperatures were much more favorable. The sugar content of the sap was better this year as well; it took 43 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup compared to 46 gallons of sap last year.
Vermont was by far the nation’s number-1 producer turning out 1.14 million gallons of syrup this year compared to 890,000 last year.
New York produced 564,000 gallons compared to 312,000 last year; Maine produced 360,000 gallons compared to 315,000 last year; Wisconsin produced 155,000 gallons compared to 117,000 in 2010. While above year-ago levels, Wisconsin and Maine production this spring was below 2009 output.
Ohio produced 125,000 gallons of syrup compared to 65,000 in 2010 and 90,000 in 2009. The 2010 production sold an average $42.70 per gallon totaling $2.776 million compared to an average $40.30 and total $3.67 million in 2009.
The Wisconsin season ran 28 days this spring compared to 20 last year. Yield increased 31 percent to 0.235 gallons per tap while sugar content was the same, 38 gallons of sap for a gallon of syrup.
The 2010 Wisconsin maple syrup sold for an average $39.50 per gallon for a total of $4.6 million. The 2009 production brought $7.3 million.
Along with the 2011 production numbers, NASS also released the final price report for the 2010 production. The average gallon of maple syrup in the U.S. last year sold for $37.50, down 40 cents from the 2009 average price. Because of the small yield, total value of the country’s maple syrup output was $73.55 million compared to more than $91 million in 2009.
Connecticut had the highest price per gallon last year at $70, Massachusetts averaged $56.50 and New Hampshire got $55.40 per gallon. Vermont had the largest production and therefore the largest total sales, $30.26 million, New York sold $12.29 million and Maine had $10.5 million total sales.
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