By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Consumers still yearn for a good maple syrup, but not just any syrup. Ohio State University natural resource specialist Gary Graham had advice for those in the maple industry: Continue to produce that good maple syrup, but give the customer what they want.

“Maple producers take pride in making a very light amber syrup,” Graham said, “but studies have shown time and time again that consumers want a dark, full- or robust-tasting maple syrup.”

Graham is one of the organizers of this year’s Ohio Maple Days workshop, which will be Jan. 28 in Fulton County, Jan. 29 in Wayne County and Jan. 30 in Geauga County. He sees changes ahead for the U.S. maple industry, and he’ll address those changes at each of these workshops.

The purpose of these events is to help Ohio maple syrup producers get ready for the upcoming season, which will start in early February and run through mid-March, depending on the weather.

“Longstanding traditions of how syrup is graded are going to be changing to meet what consumers what,” Graham said. “This is a hard concept, as tradition is a big, big component of maple production.”

At the workshops Graham will examine such changes in his session entitled “Maple Nuggets,” with updates on grading, lead testing, new equipment, pricing, international marketing and more.
The keynote speaker at this year’s event will be Tim Perkins, director of the University of Vermont’s Proctor Maple Research Center. During Perkins’ talk (“Maximizing Syrup Yields: Tips and Tricks”) he will look at new sap-collecting technology and how it can increase efficiency. He will also talk about small spouts, new types of tubing and higher vacuum levels.

Steve Childs of Cornell University will discuss sizing and tubing a vacuum system, keys to quality value-added products and why sap runs and what to do about it.

“Childs will be covering helpful tricks to get the most out of a tubing system,” Graham said. “Also, he has worked a lot on maple confections to help producers make more money by selling more than just syrup.”

Randy Heiligmann, a state forestry specialist with OSU extension and forestry researcher with OSU’s Agricultural Research and Development Center, will talk about maintaining sugarbush health and productivity, with an in-depth look at pruning, harvesting, reproducing, planting and fertilizing.

Larry Gearhardt of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation will talk about Current Agricultural Use Value assessment, property line disputes, fence laws and forest tax laws.

“Producers will have the chance to learn what the maple industry is doing, not just in Ohio but in the world market,” Graham said. “They’ll have the opportunity to learn how to get more production, which means more money to them.

“They’ll also have the chance to learn from fellow producers and to talk to equipment dealers on the latest wares to help them produce more and better maple syrup.”

A trade show will be at each location, with free testing of hydrometers and Vermont temporary maple syrup grading kits. Reports will be given by OSU extension and the Ohio Maple Producers Assoc.

“The demand is very high for syrup right now,” Graham added. “Prices are going to be bouncing way up. If you’ve ever thought about expanding, now is the time to do it.”

The cost to attend the workshops is $30. For further information and the exact location of each workshop, call 330-263-3799 and ask for Lisa.