Posted: 04.05.2011

No doubt there are a lot of Wisconsin-ites that are ready to be done with the cloudy skies, remaining snow, and overall dreary weather.  Wisconsin maple syrup producers don't see it that way.

Lyle Stockwell with S&S Sugar Bush in Ellsworth says this year's been one of their best in maple syrup production.  The western Wisconsin sugar operation works collectively with maple trees they own - and neighbors, to bring in the sweet harvest.  "We started tapping on March 16th,"  Stockwell tells Pam Jahnke, "and I'm really pleased with the harvest so far."  

Stockwell says they're working with about 3,000 tubes, pails and bags collecting the sap from the trees. He claims that the sugar content of his sugar bush this year is a little higher then average.  "Usually when the trees are under stress, they produce a higher sugar content sap," Stockwell says - although he's not sure what stress the trees would've experienced.  It takes, on average, 10 gallons of tree sap to produce one quart of maple syrup. 

Stockwell says the ideal weather for them is cool evenings where temperatures drop to the mid 20's with a frost - and then warm up the next day into the upper 40's, low 50's with a clear sky and no wind. 

When will it all end?  When Mother Nature decides Stockwell says.  He says as days get warmer, that's Mother Nature's signal to the trees to start channeling energy from sap production into bud production.  "You can look up to the top of the trees and see the brown of the buds coming out," Stockwell says.  "You can even smell 'buddy' sap when it comes into the cook house." 

'Buddy sap' might not be what maple syrup producers want - but it is a sure sign that warmer spring weather has finally gotten a grip.

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