Maple Syrup BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie IrwinMaple Syrup BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin
Sarnia

Early Start To Maple Syrup Season

Record breaking February temperatures have triggered an early start to the maple syrup season.

Al Williamson of Williamson Farms near Ipperwash says they produced about a quarter of their 2000 litre crop on the weekend but the sap has since tapered off.

"These warm days are just killing us," he says. "What is it going to do? Are the buds going to come out before we get the frost? Some trees seem like they're almost ready to pop while others, not so much. Saturday was a pretty good run. We had some frost but not enough to keep us going. We need some minus fours at night and some plus fives in the daytime for ideal sap weather."

The flavour of the syrup changes and production stops once sugar maple trees start to bud.

The mercury isn't forecast to fall below the freezing mark until Saturday night.

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