CHIPPEWA FALLS -- Summerlike weather this month across Wisconsin has been a welcome development for most residents, but don't count the state's maple syrup makers among them.
During a typical syrup-making season at their 120-acre Grape's Sugar Bush in rural Holcombe, Henry and Gretchen Grape will make about 200 gallons of the sweet treat.
Ideal conditions for gathering sap to make syrup consist of daytime highs in the 40s with nightly temperatures below freezing. But this month, with temperatures frequently in the 60- and 70-degree range, the Grapes will harvest only 15 gallons after a syrup-gathering season that lasted only a few days.
"It's a total disaster," Gretchen Grape said Tuesday. "And it's purely because it's too warm."
In a normal year, the trees are tapped for the first time between March 10 and March 15, and the Grapes keep collecting sap until mid-April. When trees begin to grow buds, sap stops flowing.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Our first (sap) gathering was March 12, and again on March 15," Gretchen said, noting that was the extent of this year's season because trees already have made buds.
Other syrup makers around Wisconsin reported similar conditions, with yields typically less than half of normal. The weather forecast for Wisconsin calls for temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to the 70s through this week.
Henry, 74, and Gretchen, 69, own a family-operated sugar bush that dates to 1920. They typically have sold their finished syrup products from their farm.
"My husband has been in it all his life, and he's never seen it this bad," Gretchen said. "It's very frustrating, but it's an agriculture crop, and we're dealing with Mother Nature."
Gretchen said she saw warning signs of the unusual recent warm spell dating back to last fall, when the region didn't receive much precipitation. Her fears grew during winter months, when little snow fell and temperatures were well above normal.
"Pretty much the whole state is the same way," she said. "I don't know if we have enough supply in the state of Wisconsin to meet demand."
If that's the case, consumers can expect higher maple syrup prices in the stores.
Don't plant early
ADVERTISEMENT
The early spring has hurt syrup production, but other crops are getting off to a fast start. While the early growth could lead to greater yields, a late frost could inflict damage to crops, said Mahlon Peterson, Eau Claire County's agriculture agent.
"I think it's too early to make that call," Peterson said. "We already have warmer soil temperature. The frost is gone. That is certainly going to help on crops like strawberries."
Other crops, such as hay, also are likely to survive a late season overnight frost, he said.
Despite the early warm conditions, Peterson urged people to plant during normal planting times, not get started early.
"If you normally start planting corn on April 20, there is no reason to start earlier," Peterson said.
Vetter can be reached at 715-723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com .
(c)2012 the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.)
Visit the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.) at www.leadertelegram.com
ADVERTISEMENT
Distributed by MCT Information Services
