The Future of Sugar Maples in Maine

Sugar maple leaves
Sugar maple leaves. B. Bisson, Maine Sea Grant.

Predictions for future climate change may be varied, but the data suggest that the maple tapping season is happening earlier each year. This, however, may be an oversimplification of the trend. UMaine graduate student Jenny Shrum is looking deeper to determine connections between weather conditions and the rate of sap flow. An understanding of these relationships may help syrup producers to better predict the best time to tap, allowing syrup production to continue even as conditions change. Read more.