This is the 11^th Maple Agriphone Report for the 2007 Maple Production Season. The purpose of this service is to provide Ontario’s maple syrup producers with weather and production related information throughout the maple production season. 

The 2007 maple production season was delayed due to cold weather in February and early March. This was followed by conditions either too warm or too cold for best sap flow for much of the production season. Many producers in areas with the warmest regional climate (southern, southwestern, southcentral, western) have reported below average production during the production season. Production was quite variable in all areas of the province ranging from 50-120% of an average annual crop at the producer level. In general, producers operating high efficiency vacuum systems reported the highest yields of syrup. The Ontario production season ended even in central and northern areas by the weekend of April 21^st with the onset of very warm weather. 

Syrup yield is summarized for broad geographic areas in Ontario as follows: 

Northern Region (Algoma Local) (0.6 litres/tap)
Central Region (Algonquin, Renfrew, Haliburton-Kawartha) (0.6 litres/tap) 
Eastern Region (Eastern, Lanark and District, Renfrew Locals (0.6-1 litre/tap)
Southern Region (Quinte, Waterloo-Wellington Locals) (0.6-0.7 litres/tap)
Southwestern Region (Southwestern, Grey-Bruce Locals) (0.5-0.8 litres/tap) 

Note: In recent years, average or normal yields for individual operations are in the range of 0.8-1 litre of syrup/tap. 

Based on the 2007 Maple Production Survey conducted by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association, the provincial production was about 874,000 litres from an estimated 1.3 million taps or 0.7 litres per tap. This same level was predicted earlier from informal producer reports from across the province. The average yield of syrup per tap in Ontario was 0.8 litres per tap in 2005 and 2006.  

Important factors which influenced production levels at the producer-level include: 

-          whether or not the producer collected and processed the first runs of sap
-          productivity of the sugar bush 
-          efficiency of the sap collection system
-          suitability of local weather conditions for sap flow

Many maple producers from across Ontario reported that their average sap sweetness was lower than in previous years. 

Most producers reported that they were generally satisfied with the grade and flavour of syrup produced throughout the production season. Based on Ontario’s Annual Production Survey, the percent of syrup produced in Ontario by Color Class was as follows: 

Extra Light                   5.4%
Light                           26.2 %
Medium                       39.6 %
Amber                         22.5%
Dark                            6.3% 

There were a few reports of metabolic or woody off-flavour in syrup produced from early runs of sap. The producers who reported this problem took steps to ensure that the affected syrup was not sold to consumers.

The Summary Information of the Ontario Maple Syrup Production and Pricing Survey for 2007 is posted at the end of this agriphone.

It is also anticipated that a copy of the Summary information from Ontario’s 2007 Production and Pricing Survey will be posted on the website of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association later this summer.  

Maple Agriphone messages are based in part on weekly maple production reports provided by maple producers from across Ontario to OMAFRA Specialists. Messages are posted on OMAFRA’s website as soon as possible after they are provided as a phone message. The website is: http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/scripts/english/crops/agriphone/index.asp

This Maple Agriphone message was developed by Dave Chapeskie, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Kemptville. His contact information is:

Telephone: 613-258-8302
Facsimile: 613-258-8392 
E-mail: dave.chapeskie@ontario.ca 

ONTARIO MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION SURVEY RESULT

*NOTE: Calculated from provided data      # = Total of 119 Respondents, 21% of taps in Ontario (Stats Canada 2006)

OMSPA Local	First Day of Boiling	Last Day of Boiling	% Extra Light	% Light	% Medium	% Amber	% Dark	Litre of Syrup/ Tap 2007	Weighted Avg Retail 4 L Price 2006	Weighted Avg Retail 1 L Price 2006
Algoma	Mar 11	Apr 20	9.3	25.3	41.0	20.1	4.3	0.6	53.83	19.08
Algonquin	Mar 11	Apr 23	3.5	20.5	42.7	27	6.3	0.6	46.57	16.13
Eastern Counties	Mar 10	Apr 20	1.4	19.0	67.0	8.8	3.8	1.0	51.75	16.38
Grey - Bruce	Mar 11	Apr 24	9.4	37.3	26.1	17.1	10.1	0.8	47.11	15.50
Haliburton - Kawartha	Mar 10	Apr 27	1.6	16.9	43.9	28.3	9.3	0.6	56.82	18.29
Lanark	Mar 13	Apr 23	5.4	24.5	39.7	25.8	4.6	0.6	50.92	16.96
Quinte	Mar 12	Apr 18	7.0	13.3	53.0	26.0	0.7	0.6	52.00	17.71
Renfrew	Mar 15	Apr 23	0.0	47.5	35.5	16.5	0.5	0.6	50.92	16.96
Simcoe	Mar 12	Apr 21	7.2	31.8	34.9	22.7	3.4	0.7	53.66	18.66
Southwestern	Feb 27	Apr 17	7.8	27.0	33.8	26.5	4.9	0.5	50.50	15.68
Waterloo - Wellington	Feb 28	Apr 20	4.7	33.5	32.5	18.2	11.1	0.7	43.73	13.59

Note: Heat source based on number of taps

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