Maple Management
Maple production resources for foresters, landowners, and businesses.
Showing 61 – 70 of 314 resources
Maple production resources for foresters, landowners, and businesses.
On May 7th, 2019 the first ever FFA Maple Career Development Event (CDE) was held at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. A CDE is a competition that is designed to test skill development and prepare students for careers in the particular area of focus. CDEs are held for many different disciplines such as forestry, tractor driving, and dairy handling. The CDE’s are often used by high school career and technical centers as a way to assess students’ knowledge and compare results between schools that are teaching similar material. Additionally, CDE’s serve as a way for students to build their credentials, with students often including their CDE experience on their resumes.
This manual was developed primarily for use by Vermont Career and Technical Center educators and students. It can be used as a reference as students learn about aspects of sugarbush management and syrup production. Biology, chemistry, math, history, and the culture of maple syrup making can enrich the educational experience as well as provide technical skills for students interested in working in the maple industry. The overall goal of the manual is to create consistency in the sugaring techniques that are taught throughout Vermont and as a guide to prepare students for the Vermont Maple Career Development Event. This manual can also be a valuable resource for anyone interested in sugaring, from the back-yard sugar maker to a new employee joining an established maple syrup producer.
A collection of videos from the 2020 VT maple conference.
Adam Wild, the director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest located in Lake Placid, NY, shares information about basic tubing design and installation for both gravity and vacuum systems.
Mark Isselhardt, UVM Extension’s Maple Specialist, shares results from a recent survey of professional foresters that includes approaches and challenges to successful sugarbush management.
Advertising your business online can often seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to start and what you’re trying to accomplish. Zac Smith, UVM Extension, and Mike Lannen, Eternity Marketing, show you how to set tangible goals, start small, and expand your online advertising with a variety of tools.
Maple producers and sellers are adjusting many aspects of their businesses to adapt to the shifting environment of the national pandemic. During this session Mark Cannella, UVM Extension, shares successes and considerations from shifting operations, marketing, and financial approaches to remain viable. Canella is joined by Jenna and Jacob from Baird Farm to share some of their perspectives.
Understanding how roads and water interact in the sugarbush is important for many reasons. Dave Wilcox, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation Watershed Forester, provides a clear understanding of how acceptable management practices (AMPs) used in timber harvesting can help improve water quality, reduce erosion, and keep access to the sugarhouse open.
Use photography and social media to connect with consumers and market your business. Learn some basics of photography with your smart phone and how to use your photos to engage with an online audience including: best practices for posting compelling pictures and stories on social media, what to avoid, and how to use what you have to take good quality pictures and effectively engage potential customers. With Chadwick Estey (City Market/Onion River Co-op), Jenna Baird (Baird Farm), and Abby Roleau (Gateway Farm).