New research in northern New York including some done in Canton indicates that maple yields can be increased if droplines are replaced.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted the results of its latest maple research project focused on increasing sap yields and profitability for regional maple producers.

From 2011-2013, project leaders evaluated the effectiveness of a relatively inexpensive changeout of equipment to improve sap gain in three Northern New York sugarbushes.

More than 200 producers have attended workshops to hear the latest data from the “Increasing Sap Yields and Profitability in Maple Sugaring Operations Through Optimum Dropline/Spout Management” project. Data collected during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 maple seasons show that while the use of new droplines and spouts produces excellent sap yields, it may not produce the highest profit; however, producers are losing income if they use only old droplines and spouts.

Research data for this maple production project was collected in 2013 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm in Canton, and 2011-2013 at fifth-generation Parker Family Maple Farm in West Chazy, and at Uihlein Maple Research Forest in Lake Placid.

The full report is posted on the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program at http://www.nnyagdev.org/index.php/2014/03/25/latest-nny-maple-research-results-posted/.

Jeff Jenness, Orebed Sugar Shack, DeKalb Junction, is a member of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Maple Subcommittee, which met in January to discuss the results of the maple production research and to identify current industry needs and priorities