Maple season is over for another year and producers are happy with this years result

Truro Daily News

Earltown A longer than normal maple season is now over leaving some producers pleased with higher than expected yields.

Dale MacIsaac, a horticulturist specializing in maple syrup production, said in most areas sap was plentiful but sugar content was lower than usual.

Theres been lots of sap but its been relatively low in sugar content, said MacIsaac.

Instead of taking 40 litres of sap to make one litre of syrup it might have taken 45 to 50.

He said the lower sugar content does not affect the quality of the syrup but increases expenses for producers because it must be processed longer.

He attributes the lower sugar content to a mild fall and winter.

MacIsaac said many producers were not optimistic going into the season and were pleasantly surprised by their yields.

Charlie MacKinlay, owner of Kirmac Maple products in Earltown, said they finished with an unexpected good average yield.

We probably did a bit better than we thought we would, said MacKinlay Starting out our expectations were a little lower because of the weather we were having.

They had 12 boiling days at the sugar camp and their season continued until Saturday, two weeks later than last year.

In Central New Annan, Jim Bezanson, owner of Swans Maple Products, also completed his last boil on Saturday.

We got more than normal. Im ecstatic, said Bezanson.

Were up about 15 per cent from last year.

It was better than average and we are very pleased with it.

He said the sap runs were sporadic for the first couple of weeks but once a snow storm hit it caused a rush and extended the season.

MacIsaac will be compiling results from the producers during the next two months to determine how much syrup was made in the province this year.



smartell.news@ns.sympatico.ca