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Cold-season patterns of reserve and soluble carbohydrates in sugar maple and ice-damaged trees of two age classes following drought

This study examines the effects of summer drought on the composition and profiles of cold-season reserve and soluble carbohydrates in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees (50-100 years old or-200 years old) in which the crowns were nondamaged or damaged by the 1998 ice storm. The overall cold season reserve carbohydrate profiles in twig wood tissue of drought-stressed (DS) trees and non-drought-stressed (NDS) trees were generally similar, although differences were observed in the amount of reserve carbohydrates in DS and NDS trees. The cold-season level of starch stored in DS trees in early autumn in the wood tissue was about one-third to one-fifth that in NDS trees. The cold season sugar content in the DS trees was significantly greater than can be attributed to degradation of stored starch, only.

Publication:
Botany
Date:
March 6, 2009

Maples under pressure

How sap pressure and flow interacts in maple trees during the sugaring season.

Publication:
Farming, the Journal of Northeast Agriculture
Date:
March 1, 2009

Achieving the Right Syrup Density

Achieving a consistent and acceptable density level for maple syrup continues to be a challenge for many producers.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
February 1, 2009

Metabolism Off-Flavor In Maple Syrup – Part I: Identification of the compound responsible for metabolism off-flavor

Research on metabolism off-flavor in maple syrup at the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research and Extension Center (PMREC) had two main objectives. The first was to identify the primary compound(s) responsible for metabolism off-flavor in maple syrup. Once the responsible compound or compounds were identified, measures to reduce or remove the off-flavor from finished maple syrup could be investigated. Thus, the second main objective was to determine whether a technique could be found that maple producers and packers might employ to effectively remediate the flavor, and thereby increase the economic value, of metabolized maple syrup.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
February 1, 2009

What does a taphole do to a tree?

Tapping trees creates a wound that the trees are usually able to heal. But what is the impact of tapping on trees?

Publication:
Farming, the Journal of Northeast Agriculture
Date:
February 1, 2009

Sugarmakers as teachers

One way that maple producers can gain useful information is by attending the education programs put on by Extension in conjuction with county and state maple organizations, where speakers include not just university and government specialists, but also sugarmakers who share their knowledge and experience.

Publication:
Farming, the Journal of Northeast Agriculture
Date:
January 1, 2009

Storing Your Bumper Crop

Once the season is over you need to use a little TLC when it comes to storing maple syrup so it will maintain its quality and value. If you have a lot of syrup setting in drums here are a few suggestions.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
October 1, 2008

Vapour Compression Evaporation

The cost of fuel in a typical oil-fired, Open Pan Evaporator (O.P.E.) for a 4000 tap operation can represent 20% of the total syrup production costs. Vapor Compression Evaporation (V.C.E.) offers a method of capturing lost energy and improving the fuel consumption of an O.P.E. Most of the energy goes up in steam and this unit will recapture lost energy to reuse.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
October 1, 2008

The Timing of Tapping for Maple Syrup Collection

There are a variety of reasons why sugarmakers might want to tap earlier than the traditional date: thousands of taps that take several weeks to install, lower snow cover and easier walking before mid to late winter, climate change generally moving the season forward and providing more sap flow weather in January and February. For most sugarmakers, the bottom line is simply this: what tapping time frame results in the highest sap yield? The experiments described below, which were performed between 2000 and 2007, were designed to answer this question.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
June 1, 2008

Effects of Various Filters on Sap Quality and Characteristics

Sap filters can remove residue or debris, which may inadvertently enter the sap through the collection system or during storage. Moreover, filtering may improve the storage potential of maple sap, improve sap quality especially during mid- to late-season and help in keeping the evaporator system clean.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
February 1, 2008