Author: karns.36

Red Maple Webinar next Thursday

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Sharing this information from our friends at Future Generations University.

Red maple isn’t just a pretty canopy—it’s a serious production opportunity. In this Out of the Woods webinar, Dr. Abby van den Berg breaks down what current research shows about red maple yields, syrup flavor profiles, and tapping guidelines. We’ll cover site factors, timing, and trade-offs producers actually face, then translate findings into practical steps for woods work and sugarhouse decisions. Whether you’re expanding beyond sugar maple or pressure-testing your red maple strategy, come for clear takeaways and research-backed answers.

This is the 53rd session of Future Generations University’s webinar series, “Out of the Woods: Growing Income from Your Forest.” This webinar series will cover everything from tree science and woodlot management to marketing and record-keeping.

Jump over to their website and register to access the webinar link next Thursday night, September 18th at 7:00 PM.

Boot Camp Registration LIVE

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We are excited to announce that registration is live for Boot Camp, July 17-19th.  This year, we are basing out of northeast Ohio and utilizing Lake Metroparks Farmpark as headquarters.  Boot Camp is a 3-day workshop that starts at 12:15 on Thursday, July 17th, and goes through 3 PM Saturday July 19th.  Starting the first day we will learn how to assess a potential sugarbush, then build sequentially through all phases of maple syrup production from sap collection to boiling, bottling, and sales.  Participants will gain the skills necessary for the safe, efficient, and profitable production of maple products.

Classroom sessions will be held at Farmpark with at least 5 tours of local maple producers in the area.  We are excited to not only include so many field trip opportunities this year, but we will also have an evening of value-added maple products demonstration and tasting.  A maple syrup quality and grading session is another new addition to Boot Camp that we’re excited about.

Check out the website for more details and get your spot before they are all gone – space is limited!

Freeman’s Maple Research Podcast

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Just a quick reminder that the Ohio Maple Days registration is live – we hope to see you in December!

A couple months ago, I had the opportunity to sit down virtually with Aaron Wightman from Cornell and talk about the 3 year’s worth of data we collected to investigate Freeman’s maple production potential in comparison to sugar maples.  The research was conducted at OSU-Mansfield in the University research sugarbush, and Aaron did a great job leading the Sweet Talk Maple Podcast and keeping the conversation on track.  Please enjoy!  The episode can be downloaded and heard anywhere you get your podcasts.

John Berry Maple Contest – Submissions Accepted

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As part of the Ohio Maple Days event, Ohio Maple Producers Association is hosting the John Berry Maple Contest.  Awards will be presented at the December 7th Ohio Maple Days event, and ribbons will be given out to the top three places in each class – Golden Delicate, Amber, Dark, Very Dark.  The best overall score in the Small Sugar Maker will receive a plaque as will the Best of Show producer by winning the Hilton Farley Contest.

Click here for your Entry form and additional details on syrup submission.

Contest participants can send entries to or drop them off at the 5 following locations:

  • OMPA Winter Banquet
  • OMPA Table at Lake Erie Maple Expo
  • Richards Maple Products (7955 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, OH 44094)
  • Gortner Maple Syrup (1222 Township Road 13, West Salem, OH 44287)
  • Galen Smith (12860 Henry Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050)

All entries must be received by November 22 to qualify for the John Berry Maple Contest.  For any questions or clarification, please contact Galen Smith 740-398-3373.

 

Registration is LIVE for Ohio Maple Days

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Friday December 6th we will be offering a Legacy Planning workshop on transition and estate planning featuring Ohio State University’s own David Marrison and Robert Moore.  While this workshop is a part of Ohio Maple Days, it is open to any landowner who wants to participate.  So please consider registering yourself, but also please share this great opportunity with family, friends, and neighbors regardless of whether they are a maple producer or not.  Registration is available here.

Saturday December 7th is a day for everything maple.  Topics this year include an expert panel on filtering, cost share programs, managing a timber sale, marketing for producers and a grading and tasting session to name a few.  Visit with vendors and enjoy a maple themed lunch.  It is always a grand time – Registration is available here.

Tap Talk Webinar

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This is super short notice, but Les Ober and Mike Rechlin are co-teaching a Taps, Spouts, and Spiles talk on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM.  All you need to do is click this ZOOM link to attend.

The presentation will summarize research on maple taps, spouts and spiles.  The webinar will then move to an open discussion on your experiences with the benefits and drawbacks of the various models on the market.  It is getting close to time to order your supply for the coming season, so this offering is well-timed.  Attend and see if you don’t learn a tidbit or two to coax a little more sap from each taphole this upcoming season.

Upcoming NAMSC Webinars

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Thinking of adding value-added pure maple products to your operation?  Looking to improve your current candy and cream skills?  Merle Maple confections expert Eileen Downs will demonstrate the processes used to make award-winning candy and cream, from start to finish.  Join this North American Maple Syrup Council webinar on Monday, December 12th at 7 PM.  Register here.

The second opportunity is offered twice.  Once at 7 PM on December 14th and again on December 17th at noon.  In these sessions, the lead researcher (Geoff Lewis from the University of Michigan) will describe this maple syrup life cycle inventory project and go over the data they’re looking to collect from producers and processors this coming spring.  These data will also be used to build an online calculator for any producer to estimate their own greenhouse gas emissions and receive suggested strategies to reduce these emissions.  There will be plenty of time to answer questions about the project and participate.  Registration information is here.

December Ohio Maple Days & Grading Workshop

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Don’t forget to register for the Ohio Maple Days meeting scheduled for December 11 in Ashland.  We have a limited number of seats, so don’t delay too much in getting in those registrations.

We are also excited to host a syrup grading workshop on Friday, December 10th.  Please consider making a couple days of it to participate in both the workshop and the main event on Saturday.  Registration for the syrup grading workshop is on the Woodland Stewards website.

See you there!

New OSU Maple Syrup SHOP

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We are excited to have a new maple shop up and running on the Woodland Stewards website.  The new shop gives us a few new features to track orders and supplies a bit better.  The 2021 syrup run is all bottled and waiting on your orders as the Holiday season approaches.  We have 1/2 pint glass bottles available in addition to pint, quart, half gallon, and gallon (gallons by request only) available in jugs.

I am happy to report that syrup sales placed 2 part-time students and a full-time recent graduate in the field throughout last winter’s sugaring season.  From both a production standpoint (how the maple syrup is produced and hands-on learning of that process) and research standpoint (how to ask good research questions and how to set up experiments to get answers), each student had an incredible enriching experience thanks to your support of the program.

NEW Fact Sheet – A Consumer’s Guide to Pure Maple Syrup

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Our very own Les Ober recently published a new fact sheet entitled “A Consumer’s Guide to Pure Maple Syrup.”  This promises to be an excellent resource to share with buyer’s asking about the difference between Golden Delicate and Dark Robust syrup grades and so much more.

You can find it here!