Future Generations Webinar on markets for this time of uncertainty was reported to be excellent. Here are the links to the webinar.
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erII6OpcaXI
Part 2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyVZEnurumw
The schedule may be downloaded below to help you navigate through the portions of the webinar that most interest you.
I only produce enough syrup for friends and family but I empathize with those who lost money, or had their income delayed, due to COVID-19. In a way of trying to distract you, and myself, I turn to the 2020 Crop Reports in the Maybe Syrup Digest June 2020 issue.
I always enjoy reading the crop reports. What struck me were the comments about the weather in the various regions. Remember when we were worried about the weather, and when we were going to tap? How we had a short cold snap in January but it was also a warmer period with potential for “Growing Degree Days” to shorten the season? Remember when that seemed the end-all-that-be-all? Here are some of the quotes from the reports that made me giggle.
Indiana: “Fortunately, Indiana was blessed with plenty of moisture, mostly rain, during our maple season.” I guess that’s a good thing, but all I could think about was 2019 when I was slip-sliding down the muddy hillsides in West Virginia!
Maine: “Maine producers reported an average length season, with odd temperature swings involving a three-week freeze followed by close to two weeks with temperatures that were barely above freezing at night.” Okay, not funny, but despite this which apparently caused low sugar content, they still got an average crop with great flavor, so all’s well that ends well.
Massachusetts: “In Massachusetts, it felt like March lasted from late December through early May.” I feel ya, MA!
New Brunswick: “This year the province saw moderate to less than average snow cover in the south. Many areas had only around a couple feet of snow cover…” Ha ha! – only a couple feet!
New Hampshire: “I firmly believe that Mother nature is a fickle business partner…. No two seasons are ever the same and just when you think you have the key to increased production, Mother Nature changes the rules.” Yep. BTW Mother Nature: please, no more pandemics!
Ohio: “What can we learn from the 2020 season? First and foremost, weather forecasting is an exact science with a lot of room for error. The winter of 2019/2020 forecast for Ohio was about as far off as you can get.” At first I wondered if they meant to say “weather forecasting is NOT an exact science” but then I realized it said exactly what it meant to say. Yes, it is science, but the statistical variance of accuracy is huge!
West Virginia: “The biggest difference in 2020 is that February will likely go down as the best ever, as many produced 75% to 100% of their crop in February. This was very fortunate as the season ended by March 7 to 10, 10 to 15 days earlier than normal, especially for producers above 2400′ in elevation.” Also not funny but it makes me smile because I had a great season for my 22 taps. I tapped them on February 13 for 2 weeks (instead of 6 weeks last year). My total syrup produced was 2.4 gallons (all pretty much golden-delicate) up from just under 2 gallons last year.
I hope you enjoyed reminiscing about “the good ole days” when all that mattered was getting our maple equipment ready for the season and having weather that cooperated enough to give us a few good runs.
None of us knows what the future holds. I take this virus very seriously and wear my mask to Foodland even though very few others do, and I only get carryout food from restaurants. Gilmer County has only had 12 confirmed cases but I’ve talked to several locals who think they had it or have a loved one who might have it. This is a nasty illness, and even if you expect to recover, it won’t be fun being sick unless you are a lucky asymptomatic carrier. Lucky for you, not so lucky for those around you. Please be safe.