Threats to Maple Trees

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive wood boring beetle that feeds on the tissues under the bark of ash trees (Fraxinus spp) and kills them. EAB is 100% fatal to native ash trees of any size, any age, healthy or unhealthy, (according to research by Michigan State University and the US Forest Service).  Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is not a threat to human health but it does threaten our forest and urban tree populations.

The metallic green EAB beetle is native to East Asia and was accidentally imported to the United States within the wood of shipping crates from China. EAB was first discovered in North America near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. Since then the beetle has spread to several eastern and midwestern states, including Wisconsin. EAB has also been found in Canada.

 

Read more at Wisconsin's Emerald Ash Borer Information Source.
MapleAcres
Maple Syrup: Nature's Spring Tonic PDF Print
Saturday, 01 November 2008 10:23

Maple Syrup has been produced at MapleAcres in Two Rivers, WI since 1918.  2012 marked the 95th year Maple Syrup was made at MapleAcres.  Maple Syrup is made in the spring of the year.  The season starts around the end of February or early March and lasts to early April depending on weather. Maple trees need the alternating warm sunny days and freezing nights that happen as winter gives way to spring.

The 2012 Maple Syrup Season over.  Click here to read about the 2012 season.  You can read about past season by clicking on the section "In the Sugarbush."

The Sugar Master at MapleAcres

The Sugar Master at MapleAcres
 
Thoughts on Season 95 PDF Print
Sunday, 15 April 2012 17:37

We should have started earlier.  If we had tapped by February 14 we would have had more sap.  Likely even an average to above average season.  The week of February 14 had the freeze/thaw cycles we need:  20s at night and 40s during the day.   In future years we will be ready to move earlier if we have warm winters.  The trend may be warmer winters too with climate change.  

Still we were fortunate.  With 51 gallons we had 85% of an average crop.  Other producers did much worse with 25% to 30% of a crop.    We are thankful for the crop we got.

The big disappointment was the R/O.   We don't regret getting it.  It was how the order was handled by the vendor.   We understand its a piece of industrial equipment.    We are not gong to walk into our local Ag supply store and walk out with an R/O.  But we did order it October 6, 2011 and the vendor said it should arrive without problem for the season.  

During the off season we have a number of projects to complete.  Build and addition to the syrup building for the R/O.  Its needs 240 volt power and insulation so it does not freeze.   We need a new smoke stack on the evaporator.   We just got by with the current smoke stack as its rusted and burnt through in a number of places.  We are still surprised we had no smoke in the building.    We will put in a new gate to the woods.  And we need to start a tree transplant program to get young maples in the areas around the syrup building.   The area has mowed for the past 15 or more years.  There is no young growth only mature trees that are fast coming to their end of life.

In October we will attend the North American Maple Syrup Council annual meeting in Connecticut.    We plan to be back here in February or March of 2013 for season 96.
 

In Memoriam

Ned T. Zander died Wednesday, June 1, 2011 in the home where he was born, lived, and passed. He was surrounded and comforted by his loving family.

Ned was a Maple Syrup producer. His parents introduced him to Maple Syrup making. He made Maple Syrup all his life.  First with his parents, then with brother, Paul Zander, and later with help from family and friends. He was a member of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association. In recent years he enjoyed attending the annual meeting of the North American Maple Syrup Council in various US states and Canadian provinces where he could talk about maple syrup 24 hours a day.  In October 2006 during the North American Maple Syrup Council annual meeting the participants toured his humble sugarbush.  Ned was thrilled to show his small operation to large producers from Vermont, Maine, New York and Quebec.

Ned was also an avid woodsman. Over the course of his life he cut and split approximately 700 cords of firewood for heating his home, cooking maple syrup or selling. He also made logs from his woods that he sold to Algoma Lumber Company.

We plan to continue making Maple Syrup not only to honor Ned, but also because we like doing it.

Old Maple Syrup makers never die, they just evaporate.