By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WOOSTER, Ohio — The maple syrup producing season is roughly three months away, but maple producers are gearing up for their “preseason training” with Ohio Maple Workshops scheduled Jan. 29-31.

Ohio State University extension will hold its annual Ohio Maple Days workshop in Morrow County on Jan. 29, in Wayne and Holmes counties on Jan. 30 and in Geauga County on Jan. 31.

“Whether they’re large producers of maple syrup or small-time producers, these workshops will help,” said Gary Graham, a natural resources specialist at the OSU Extension Center at Wooster and one of the workshop’s organizers. “We’re seeing our attendances rise over the years and we’ve also seen an increase in those returnees wanting to expand their operation.”

According to Graham, half of those attending the workshops have elaborate tapping operations, while the other half have rugged contraptions and look at the venture as nothing more than a hobby. Larger producers have up to 50 acres, though most work with just five acres of trees.

“For half of those involved, tapping is a hobby and not a full-time thing,” Graham said. “The neat thing is one can still make money at this, even if they consider it a hobby. And the prices for syrup are still quite high.”

The program will feature management tips, talks by experts and news and research updates. Included will be a two-part session on reverse osmosis (RO), which can cut the amount of fuel used to boil down maple syrup by up to 75 percent.
“RO can reduce the oil needed to produce a gallon of syrup from the usual three to four gallons, to as little as one gallon,” Graham said. “RO is an expensive piece of equipment, but in the long run it’s worth it in fuel savings. There is also less expensive small-scale systems in existence.”
Brian Stowe of the University of Vermont’s Proctor Maple Research Center will lead the RO session. He’ll cover installation and operation procedures. Graham, Les Ober of OSU extension’s Geauga County office and forestry specialist Randy Heiligmann of OSU’s School of Environment and Natural Resources will also address the groups.
Graham says attendees should bring their hydrometer and Vermont Temporary Maple Syrup Grading Kit to have them checked for accuracy. Results will be obtained at the workshop.
“Having precise measurements is key to syrup with just the right density,” he said. “Testing the accuracy of a hydrometer is a good practice and helps you make sure you’re not finishing the syrup too light or too heavy. Too light and the syrup can ferment or get moldy; too heavy and it might crystallize. Either problem can cost you customers, money or both.”
While interest in this hobby (or business) is growing, there’s room for more producers in Ohio.
“Now is the time to be starting the business or expanding,” he said. “Ohio doesn’t produce enough syrup. We can’t keep up with the demand.”
According to Graham, the workshops at these four locations will attract producers from Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York. Registration is $30 per person and includes lunch, A small materials fee will be charged to check the hydrometers and grading kits.
To register, send name, address and payment to: OSU Extension, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. Checks should be made payable to OSU Extension, indicating which location to be attended.
The Morrow County workshop will be held at the Lutheran Memorial Camp, 2790 State Route 61, south of Fulton. The Wayne/Holmes workshop will be held at the Sprunger Building at the Kidron Auction, 4885 Kidron Road in Kidron. The Geauga County workshop will take place at Joe J.S. Miller’s Window Shop at 15020 Shedd Road in Burton.
For more information, contact Graham at 330-263-3799.