Wisconsin Extension Maple Syrup Program

Do you have birches, walnuts, beeches, or sycamores growing in your sugarbush, or is it mostly maples? What do you think about the costs and benefits of diversifying the species in your sugarbush? Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of New Hampshire want your opinions. If you fill out their sugarbush diversification survey by the end of October, you will receive a $25 Visa gift card.

Take the survey here: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exnnKq38maDKaVM

In our survey of Wisconsin maple syrup producers, three-quarters of respondents said their spending time in nature motivates them to produce maple syrup, while family or physical activity motivates around half of producers and culture motivates one-quarter of producers. More than half of producers are not at all motivated by finances.

45% of respondents said they implement innovations related to maple syrup operation even if it involves risk. About one-third of respondents learn about maple syrup production mainly to increase profitability, while 14% engage in maple sugaring because most people in their community do it, and 13% do so because of family pressure.

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

In our survey of Wisconsin maple producers, we found that the most common sources of information on sugarbush management or sugarmaking are:
1) Equipment dealers and suppliers
2) Landowners/producers on the internet
3) Landowners/producers in the local community
4) Large producers
5) WMSPA

Overall, the most trusted information sources are:
1) WMSPA
2) University and Extension specialists
3) Landowners and producers in the local community
4) State foresters
5) Equipment dealers and suppliers

Among the 41 respondents with Tribal affiliations, the most trusted information sources are:
1) WMSPA
2) University and Extension specialists
3) Landowners and producers in the local community
4) NRCS
5) Wisconsin DNR

Read more findings in our full report: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

Our report with the complete findings from our 2022 survey of Wisconsin maple producers is now available! Check it out here: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/2024/05/15/survey-results/

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting some of the highlights here. We received responses from 682 producers, the majority of whom have produced maple syrup for less than 10 seasons. About 90% are private landowners who tap trees in their own sugarbush. Two-thirds have a primary residence on their property, and about half own between 10 and 99 acres where they tap their trees.