Summary

Maple production is part of the rich cultural history and economy of New York. Maple producers, like other farmers, are stewards of the land and committed to ensuring the sustainability of their harvest. Maple syrup operations enhance local retail operations and are tourism destinations that provide public education related to sustainable production. In production, in 2005, New York ranked third behind Vermont and Maine, producing 222,000 gallons of syrup. In value, the state’s industry ranks second to Vermont, with the value of the 2004 harvest at $7.19 million.

The Issue

The Cornell Maple Program (CMP) has been extensively strengthened since 2003 to improve the sustainable production of high-quality maple products. State, university and private partners have provided resources to train Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators, hire staff, renovate field facilities, and expand programs. The CMP and Cornell Maple Team have significantly increased educational programs for maple producers and expanded research programs addressing producer and consumer needs. The CMP has launched several major initiatives that are improving the industry. From 2004 to 2005, the number of taps in New York increased 5 percent, to 1.42 million. Potential for further industry growth is there: Excluding trees on preserved land, there are over 112 billion sugar maple trees in New York.

Impacts

• Six campus-based staff contribute to maple research, extension, teaching, and production. Educational programs annually include two educator trainings, six regional winter and fall producer conferences, up to five beginner maple courses, and eight special topic workshops for established producers. The 2005 programs reached more than 1,000 producers from seven states and provinces. There are 11 active or recent research projects.
• The Cornell Maple Team has grown to 20 CCE educators who provide direct educational linkages throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Their participation in professional development activities expands services statewide to producers through outreach and applied collaborative research. Maple producers now have access to fact sheets, brochures, poster displays, presentations, and access to new research findings they can share with the public.
• Maple producers worked with Cornell food scientists in Geneva to develop good manufacturing practices for a shelf-stable maple cream that may increase producer profits by 10 percent, and result in significant additional revenue for producers. Increasing the shelf life and quality of maple cream adds value for producer and consumer.
• Research on tapping practices has led to the widespread adoption of smaller spouts that reduce tree wounding while maintaining sap yields. Research also supports reducing the number of taps per tree.
• In 2006, a series of workshops will educate producers about manufacturing and marketing value-added maple products. There is a significant opportunity to increase both producer income and consumer availability for New York maple products.

Facilities

Cornell has two facilities for maple research and education: The Uihlein Forest, in the Adirondacks, in Lake Placid, NY, and the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, in the Southern Tier, in Van Etten, NY.

• Uihlein’s greenhouse and orchards are at the core of a Northeast regional research initiative to identify and cultivate genetically improved maple stock. The Field Station’s sugar bush of approximately 4,000 taps is used to demonstrate the merits of new technology and proper forest stewardship to visiting maple producers and landowners. Its state-of-the-art vacuum tubing and processing equipment enable researchers to develop improved techniques for sap collection and syrup processing. 200+ acres of forest provide an outdoor laboratory for the study of forest management and health.
• Since 1957, the sugarbush at the Arnot Forest has grown to 2,000 taps, and incorporates 40 acres, averaging 500 gallons of syrup annually, from late February to early April. Visitors are welcome year round, and a special Maple Weekend takes place in March.

Partnerships

The Cornell Maple Program enjoys broad collaborative support and partnerships with Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Renewable Resources Extension Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell’s Forest Resources Conservation Program, NYS Legislature via the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, Cornell University’s Arnot Forest and Uihlein Forest Sugarbushes and Production Facilities, the New York State Maple Producers Association, FFA Programs at Vernon-Vernon-Sherrill, Pioneer, Letchworth & Potsdam, and The Henry Uihlein Foundation.

Download PDF Version (940KB)

Contact

Brian Chabot

Professor, and Director of the Cornell Maple Program
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Phone: 607-254-4234
Email: bfc1@cornell.edu
Web: http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu