Maple syrup tapping season begins early in northern Ont.

Canadian maple producers are coming off one of their worst years in a long time – but unseasonably warm temperatures to start the year mean maple sap is already flowing.

Unseasonably warm temperatures to start the year mean maple sap is already flowing in northern Ontario. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)Experts in the industry told CTV News that the jury is still out on whether or not this will be a bounce-back year.

The warm winter weather has resulted in a mad dash for maple producers in the Sault area and beyond, as they scramble to tap trees while the sap is running.

"It's crazy to believe our guys in the sugar bush are tapping without snow shoes, they're in running shoes tapping in the sugar bush, that's not usual for us," said Erica Hogan, co-owner of Hogan’s Homestead.

Normally maple season ramps up in March, but it appears Mother Nature has had other plans this year.

Industry officials said the ideal temperatures for maple sap production are -4 C at night and 4 C during the day – temperatures the region is already seeing this year.

"Because of those warm periods that we've had in the last two weeks we've been able to collect 36,000 gallons of sap that we are currently concentrating and will be boiling,” said Hogan.

“In reference to usual years, we don't boil until March."

Evaporation that is too slow or too fast will affect the color, flavor and texture of maple syrup. At sea level, the correct temperature for evaporation is 104 C. However, since the boiling point varies with altitude, specialized equipment is often used to adjust the cooking temperature. (File Photo/CTV News)Rebounding from a record-low 2023 syrup production season, some may think that a premature start would be advantageous – however, it is likely too soon to tell. If winter does not come roaring back back soon it may be both an early beginning and an early end to the maple season across northern Ontario.

"As soon as the internal temperature of a tree hits five degrees it wakes itself up,” said Hogan.

“That means you're going to start to see buds on the trees, and as soon as you see buds that's a sign that you can no longer collect sap because the sap will become 'buddy.' Buddy has a very unique flavour to it and that's when the sap is deemed no good anymore."

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Last year Hogan's Homestead lost about $50,000 worth of syrup due to a warm spell in March.

By next Friday, the company said it will have made 20 barrels of syrup this year, calling it ‘a great head start,’ but still a ways to go to reach the 200 barrels they fill in a normal year.

The maple producers in the region said they are hopeful that colder temperatures return and prolong the season another couple of months.