Wisconsin’s 2011 maple syrup production was 155,000 gallons, up 32 percent from 117,000 gallons in 2010. Sugar content of sap was the same as last year, requiring 38 gallons of sap for one gallon of syrup. Number of taps increased from 650,000 in 2010 to 660,000 in 2011. Yields increased 31 per-cent from 0.180 gallons per tap last year to 0.235 gallons per tap this year.

In 2010, the average price Wisconsin maple syrup producers received was $39.50 per gallon, $2.80 more than in 2009.

The statewide survey shows that they actual maple syrup season in the state started on February 2, one day later than last year, and closed on May 7, compared to April 16 last year. This year’s season averaged 28 days, eight days longer than last year.

Fifty-four percent of Wisconsin producers who responded reported that temperatures this season were favorable for sap flow. This was a major change from the 2010 season, when only 12 percent of producers who responded reported favor-able temperatures. Thirty-eight percent of the producers who responded indicated that temperatures this season were too cold, compared to only 1 percent last season.

Producers in the state reported that 59 percent of the maple syrup was medium in color, 24 percent was dark, and 17 per-cent was light. Last year, 48 percent of the syrup was medium in color, while 48 percent was dark, and 4 percent was light.

Nationally, maple syrup production for 2011 totaled 2.79 million gallons, up 43 percent from last year’s 1.96 million gallons. Vermont led all states in production, followed by New York and Maine. Number of taps in 2011 was 9.58 million, 3 percent above the 2010 total of 9.26 million. Yield per tap was 0.292 gallons in 2011, up 38 percent from 0.212 gallons last year. Across the U.S., 43 gallons of sap were required to produce one gallon of syrup in 2011, compared to 46 gallons in 2010. The maple syrup season lasted 32 days on average, compared to 23 days last year. Except for Connecticut, most syrup produced in each state this year was medium to dark colored.

The 2010 U.S. price per gallon averaged $37.50, down $0.40 from the 2009 price.