Latest news with #MapleWeekend
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Maple Weekend: Weather's impact on sap production
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — This Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, mark the second and final weekend of New York Maple Weekend, a celebration of maple syrup producers in Western New York. A lot of work goes into maple syrup production, and almost everything about the process is controlled by humans — except the weather. 🍁 List: WNY locations participating in Maple Weekend Maple trees require an extremely specific environment for the best sap production. Ideally, to maintain steady sap flow, temperatures overnight have to get to the freezing mark or below. Then, during the day, high temperatures must warm up to well above freezing. This cycle creates a freeze-thaw pattern, which causes pressure within the tree, leading to the movement of sap. Of course, late winter to early spring in Western New York does not have perfect temperature patterns like this. What exactly happens to maple trees and sap production during the cold snaps and warm spells we experience during maple season? While it's good for sap flow when temperatures are well above freezing during the day, if it stays above freezing overnight and that trend continues for a few days, it will inhibit the tree to start budding. This will make the tree's metabolism shift towards the growth of the tree rather than the production of sugar, overall decreasing the quality of the sap for maple products. Last week, our Kelsey Anderson and Dave Greber interviewed Nick Wendel of Wendel Family Maple in East Concord on News 4 at 5:30, and he mentioned the weather that we've been seeing this month and how it affected maple production. 'We're very, very much weather-related,' Wendel said. 'We need nights below freezing, days above freezing. … It was a little bit warm here recently — a little bit too warm. 'Sugar makers like that cold, wet weather,' he added. 'More mud, more sap.' During long cold spells, the tree tapping process gets delayed. When temperatures drop below freezing overnight, the flow of the sap slows significantly or stops completely. Then, if temperatures struggle to get above freezing during the day, the sap will still not be flowing, making it challenging to harvest the sap. This could also delay the start of maple season, making the already limited time frame for tapping shorter overall. The majority of March hasn't been too bad as far as low temperatures go. There were only four days where temperatures were well above freezing (37 degrees or more), and two of those days were consecutive. For the rest of the month, temperatures stayed near or below freezing. High temperatures for the month have been mainly above average, even seeing three days of 70+ degrees, two of those days being record breakers. But, even after those days, the low temperatures overnight into the next day were just a couple of degrees above freezing. In general, March in Buffalo has had good conditions for maple syrup making. As far as the forecast for the second round of Maple Weekend, it's looking to be a soggy and muddy one. It'll be best to have rain gear and mud boots handy if you're planning to be outside, or venturing out to a sugar shack. Temperatures are looking to stay mild during the daytime, though, with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Sara Stierly is a meteorologist who joined the 4 Warn Weather team in February 2025. See more of her work, here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Maple Weekends 2025: Where to find local producers
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Maple Weekends are about to begin in New York, and 2025 is expected to be a big year. New York is second in the nation when it comes to producing maple syrup. According to the Governor's Office, maple production increased to 864,000 gallons in 2024 — up nearly 100,000 gallons from 2023. Maple Weekends in New York are on March 22-23 and March 29-30, but some farms have events outside of those days. The sap is flowing: Maple season underway ahead of Maple Weekend News 8 compiled a list of farms and producers in the Greater Rochester Area celebrating the Maple Weekends: Guests can stop by the farm during maple weekends to watch syrup being boiled, taste their first harvest of the season, and visit other vendors on the farm, Pancake breakfasts will be available on March 22-23. Doors at the farm will open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is inviting guests to explore the Maple Sugar Festival. It will show guests 19th-century sap-collecting techniques and how settlers turned sap into maple sugar. A breakfast buffet will be offered as week. These will be held from March 21-23 and from March 28-30. They will start at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. each day. The Victor farm's sugarhouse and sugarbush will be open for live demonstrations and viewing. No unguided trekking is allowed. Food and drink is also served during this time. These will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Honeoye Falls farm will show guests what it takes to produce all-natural maple syrup while offering samples of other maple products. A pancake breakfast will be served on the last weekend this will be held at the Mendon Fire Hall. This will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both Maple Weekends at the Elba farm will offer sap boiling demonstrations and maple syrup tastings. The event will be open rain or shine. (Not to mention, guests are encouraged to yell 'Go Bills!' in the sugarhouse!) These will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farm on Macedon Center Road provides tours of the sap house, horse-guided tours of the sugar bush, and provides free samples. These will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maple Weekend at this Willis Hill Farm will offer maple syrup production, education, samples and tours. The sugar shack will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day for tours. The farm's 'most popular maple event' — the Maople Open House will invite family and friends to check out maple syrup demonstrations. In addition, guests will also be able to sample maple products and take walks through the sugarbush. The open house is open on Saturdays and Sundays in March from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children will be able to drill and hammer a tap in a tree with assistance. Other activities include cooking demonstrations, samples and tastings, and a breakfast. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
March 22-23: Maple Weekend
Maplewood Sweets is holding their Maple Weekend from Saturday to Sunday, March 22 to 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maple Weekend activities include free samples of their maple syrup, visit the modern sugar shanty, tree tapping clinic, free soft-serve maple ice cream etc. A variety of maple products will also be available for purchase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
March declared 'Massachusetts Maple Month'
WARREN, Mass. (WWLP) – Kicking off the beginning of the agricultural season, Governor Maura Healey has declared March as Massachusetts Maple Month. Governor Healey, along with state and local officials and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff visited Deer Meadow Farm in Warren on Friday to promote Massachusetts' maple industry and support locally-made products during this special time of year. What March has in store for temperatures in Massachusetts 'We are proud to tap into the sweetest of traditions in Massachusetts and support the hardworking farmers who bring us the maple syrup we love,' Healey said. 'By choosing local syrup, you're not just savoring a delicious treat, you're investing in the future of sustainable farming and strengthening the community that makes it all possible.' Massachusetts is among the top states in the country for maple production and is home to over 300 maple producers that make over 70,000 gallons annually. MDAR has awarded over $700,000 in Climate Smart Agricultural Program grants to 35 maple producers throughout the state since 2018. To celebrate Massachusetts Maple Month, Maple Weekend will be held on March 8 and 9 at sugarhouses across the state. Tours will be available to the public so that residents can learn about the maple production process and the history of maple sugaring. Best of all, visitors will be able to sample various maple products, and select locations will even host pancake breakfasts. 'Maple sugaring is a time-honored tradition in Massachusetts, with producers having honed their craft in sugarmaking over generations,' said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. 'As with other sectors of agriculture, many of our maple producers are multi-generational, family-oriented businesses that have stood the test of time. MDAR is proud to continue its support through our CSAP Grants, which make them one of the state's most environmentally friendly sectors of agriculture, as well as one of the most delicious!' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
