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Maple Syrup
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Size of the Maple IndustryAt present, about 2600 maple producers set out 1,300,000 taps in Ontario. The highest producing areas are Waterloo-Wellington in Southern Ontario and Lanark County in Eastern Ontario. Production grew by about 30 percent between 1975 and 2008 and has been relatively steady with a production of about 1,000,000 litres of syrup per year since then. Annual production has varied with the seasonal weather and other factors. While there is room for growth of markets for maple syrup, growth prospects will be tempered by the level of capital investment required to increase tapping at existing farms, establish new operations, survive variable profitability, benefit from competing markets in the maple woodlot resource (i.e. timber production) and other factors. It is difficult to project how supply and demand will change over the next few years. The 2009 maple production season was one of the best syrup production seasons in five years in almost all maple-producing regions, with return prices to producers the best the maple industry has ever experienced. While demand for syrup is expected to increase in domestic and export markets over the next few years, this demand may be largely accommodated by existing production. Emphasis is expected to be on satisfying markets for pre-pac. A primary concern for the entire North American maple industry is the invasive Asian Long-horned Beetle. The outbreak of this pest in the Vaughan region north of Toronto is believed to be eliminated. Monitoring continues to ensure it has been eradicated. A new infestation has appeared in Worcester Massachusetts in 2008 and intensive efforts are underway to hopefully eradicate Asian Long-horned beetle from this new site. It is believed that this one invasive insect pest could potentially lay waste to the maple syrup and maple wood product industries as we know them, if it were to escape into wild and urban forests. Canada and the United States are the only two maple syrup producing countries in the world. In 2006, worldwide production of maple syrup was estimated at 40,990 metric tonnes (MT), with Canada accounting for 82% of that production, and the United States the remainder. Canada is therefore the largest maple syrup producer with production of 33,745 MT in 2006, valued at $177.9 million (Canadian), while the United States produced 7,245 MT, valued at $45.3 million (U.S) maple syrup and value-added maple products. The Canadian maple syrup producing provinces are Quebec, with 91.1% of
domestic production in 2006, followed by New Brunswick (4.5%), Ontario
(3.9%), and Nova Scotia (0.5%). There is also maple production on Prince
Edward Island, though in small volumes. Ontario is the third largest maple producing province with production
of 1,310 MT, valued at $11.2 million and concentrated in the southwest
region areas, mainly in Waterloo County. Lanark County in eastern Ontario
is the second major area of production in the province (Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada). For detailed information on maple syrup production
in Canada and the United States, see the Agriculture and Agri-Food website
and search maple syrup production. The effect of the 1998 ice storm on the maple industry in eastern Ontario
and western Quebec is still being monitored after 10 years of recovery.
The affected sugar bushes are showing good signs of recovery but the condition
of severely damaged stands is still quite fragile. In the years since
the storm, there has been noticeable mortality in some sugar bushes, especially
in the older trees. Recovery of these sugar bushes will take many more
years. Favourable growing conditions and minimal negative impacts from
other stress factors such as insect defoliation, has been conducive to
recovery. The Organized Maple Industry in OntarioThe main organization for maple syrup producers in Ontario is the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association (OMSPA). This organization has about 330 members and these members operate about two-thirds of the taps placed in sugar bushes annually in Ontario. OMSPA supports many initiatives of value to maple producers in Ontario. These include a voluntary quality assurance program which is currently undergoing re-organization, public and producer awareness and education functions and support for applied research and marketing initiatives. OMAFRA crop specialists and inspection staff, conservation authorities and forestry specialists of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) work closely with OMSPA and its various committees to support many initiatives of value to the industry. Quality AssuranceProduction of maple products that are pure and safe for the consumer is critical to the maintenance of a thriving industry in Ontario. The provincial government and federal Canadian Food Inspection Agency representatives work closely with OMSPA to monitor the purity and safety of maple syrup. The previous Maple Seal of Quality program is currently undergoing reorganisation and is expected to be operational on a voluntary basis in 2010, administered by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association. Pricing and Marketing of Maple ProductsA growing number of maple producers are recognizing the importance of
competitive pricing of their product and the application of creative marketing
strategies. This can be challenging and requires a careful allocation
of time and financial resources between the production and marketing aspects
of the maple business. Most maple products produced in Ontario are sold at the farm gate, in
retail facilities or at farmers markets. A limited number of producers
are involved in the export market since Ontario is a net importer of maple
products. There is a growing interest in the production of value-added products
from maple syrup. These include maple wine and beers, maple butter, maple
candy, and cooking sauces. Awareness and EducationPublic awareness and education efforts are critical to informing consumers
of maple products who will continue to enjoy the special attributes of
maple syrup and other maple products. OMSPA, OMAFRA, MNR, the University
of Guelph, Conservation Authorities, local Stewardship Councils and many
individual producers contribute to this effort. OMSPA maintains an informative maple exhibit at the Royal Winter Fair
in Toronto and often places exhibits at local fairs throughout Ontario.
OMSPA, OMAFRA and MNR work together in the development of information
days for maple producers. These information days usually take the form
of indoor meetings and field days. In January and February of each year,
OMSPA hosts a network of information days across Ontario and in July hosts
a summer conference and tour in some area of the province. The purpose of these meetings is to transfer research results and share
practical innovations and experience. Applied Maple Research
Other maple research is ongoing at Centre Acer in Quebec, Proctor Research
Centre in Vermont, and the Uihlein Sugar Maple Research Station in New
York State. Maple OrchardsIn Ontario, maple orchards are defined as intensively managed plantations
of sugar maple and/or black maple established with the primary objective
of producing high volumes of maple sap for syrup production. The definition
also encompasses row or line plantings along fields and road corridors.
At present, the number of maple orchards in Ontario is small and most
orchards are less than 25 years of age. While the trees in most orchards
are not yet large enough to tap, the young orchards demonstrate the potential
for planting maple in the future and have an important educational value.
Several of the earliest orchard plantings have reached a size that permits
tapping, approximately 25 cm diameter at chest height. Maple orchards are normally established on lands that have been removed
from other forms of agricultural production and have a high productive
capability for tree growth. In order to be successful, orchard growers
must make a commitment to intensively management the orchard, during a
25 to 30 year establishment period after planting, and annually once sap
production has begun. Sugar maple and /or black maple seedlings suitable for orchard establishment
can be obtained from a number of private nurseries in Ontario. A good
alternative is to obtain vigorously growing maple saplings from a managed
local sugar bush or other maple woodlot. It is better to plant maple trees
of local origin so as to ensure that they are well suited to the local
climate and to maintain the genetic resources of Ontario forests. Over the past few years, OMAFRA in cooperation with the University of
Guelph, has attempted to produce rooted maple scions from branch cuttings
collected from maple trees in the spring of the year. While good success
was achieved with rooting the cuttings, over-wintering losses were almost
complete. There was no sign of winter injury caused mortality of the cuttings.
It is believed that the cuttings may not have had enough starch reserves
to survive the dormant period. Possible remedies include a shorter cold
period, perhaps bringing the cuttings out of cold storage in late December
into a greenhouse facility to allow earlier growth. Another remedy would
be to apply a growth hormone to initiate new shoot and leaf growth during
the initial rooting period before the first winter dormancy to enable
the delicate cuttings to store more food reserves. Maple Production Report
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