Pennsylvania sets maple syrup record

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s 2011 maple syrup production was a record high — estimated at 128,000 gallons, up 137 percent from last year’s production, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The number of taps in Pennsylvania totaled 503,000, compared with 465,000 taps the year before, and yield averaged 0.254 gallons per tap, up from the 0.116 gallons per tap last year.

The 2011 season lasted an average of 32 days, which was longer than the 23-day 2010 season.

But, producers report, sugar content of the sap for 2011 was down from the previous year. On average, approximately 43 gallons of sap were required to produce one gallon of syrup. This compares with 46 gallons in 2010 and 43 gallons in 2009.

In Ohio

Ohio’s 2011 maple syrup production is ranked in sixth place nationally behind Pennsylvania, moving up one spot from last year.

Ohio maple syrup production was 125,000 gallons in 2011, a increase in production of 60,000 gallons from 2010. The number of taps increased from 385,000 taps in 2010 to 405,000 taps in 2011.

The 2011 yield was 0.309 gallons per tap, an 83 percent increase from last year and the highest yield per tap since this statistic was first measured in 2001.

Maple syrup collection started on Feb. 2, and the 2011 season lasted an average of 31 days, up 13 days from last year.

U.S. picture

The 2011 United States maple syrup production totaled 2.79 million gallons, up 43 percent from the revised 2010 total. The number of taps is estimated at 9.58 million, 3 percent above the 2010 revised total of 9.26 million.

Yield per tap is estimated to be 0.292 gallons, up 38 percent from the previous season’s revised yield.

Vermont led all states in production while production in New York rebounded from last year’s cold affected season.

On average, approximately 43 gallons of sap were required to produce one gallon of syrup. This compares with 46 gallons in 2010 and 43 gallons in 2009.

The 2010 United States price per gallon was $37.50, down $0.40 from the revised 2009 price of $37.90. The United States value of production, at $73.6 million for 2010, was down 19 percent from the revised previous season.