I think this summary showed up in a newsletter this year, but I had trouble finding it, so I searched my personal archives and there it was. Here they are for your convenience!
Minutes from the 2023 WV Maple Syrup Producers Association Annual Meeting, May 20, 2023
by Tina Gainer Barton
As my last year as Secretary of the WVMSPA, I regret to inform you that this is the last time I will take way too many notes of things I don’t always catch, or understand.
9am – housekeeping, mostly about the contest and banquet
Season Production:
- Paul Ronk – added more trees to make up for the worst year ever: 250 new tap; tapped at the end of January
- Ron Stemple – Did well until a warm spell – 1070 gallons – a tad short of last year. Also buys sap from 5000 taps that did well. 2300 feet in elevation.
- Keith Heasley – 1800-2200 feet in elevation. 77% of long term average, or 430 gallons
- Brandon Daniels – He never did say how he did himself. He talked in general about the state of maple. The closer you were to the jet stream, the colder it was. Pennsylvania did well. If you are too far north, it was too cold, so BAD. Quebec had a terrible year. The price went up.
- Ronk – noted that a Vermont lady bought 2 gallons of syrup to take up there, proving that WV is the best!
- Cathy Hervey – not good – only enough for the family. 1200 feet in elevation.
- Kody Boone – 250 taps – tapped around January 23. He got 0.2 gallons per tap, which is not great but not the worst. He had super low sugar content at the end, but he ran it anyway.
- Thomas – mirrors Boone’s production but tapped 2 weeks earlier and did better, at 1000 feet elevation.
- Boone is in a microclimate and budded out on 2-18 (soft wood maples)
- Ronk said Jamie Schuler did a study and showed that tapping in December may be advisable.
- Mark Bowers – 60% of Last Year. He’s spent 25 years in the wood and he has noticed season compression as moved spring up 4 weeks.
- Ed Howell – in Tyler County near Ohio, 800 feet elevation. He said he’s going to break out into 150 tap sections and start at Thanksgiving in phases. He got 22 gallons on 150 taps, his worst ever.
- Michael Gray – sanitized, upgraded taps. Got 3 weeks of running sap (I think that’s what my note says)
- Kendall Hill – she works with Jamie – tapped from the 2nd-3rd week of January to February 14 or so, 300 taps.
Questions about lights – verdict is that they seem to work to clean up sap, as does a sap filter system. Brandon uses a pool filter, before RO. It keeps the tank cleaner. Steamaway saved a lot of fuel.
MapleDays –
- Ronk – bridge flooded in February and he sent everyone to Herman. In March attendance was lower but sales were good.
- Boone made a comment that he’d be more willing to hold an event except he’s worried about inspections. This brought up an important topic: Inspections are voluntary and will NOT shut you down. They will just give you suggestions. Boone suggested this be advertised better. WVMSPA is missing new members because of fear of inspections.
- FDA comes in when you sell across state lines. Value added products get more kitchen inspection.
- The Grays went to the Pickens festival and suggested we need to have more of a presence there, such as the mobile sugar shack. There was no one there to show how maple syrup is made.
- The vote on continuing maple days passed. The decision was made to hold it on the 3rd Saturday in February and March in perpetuity. It purposely matches the Pickens festival.
- Luke Taylor-Ides (FGU) says we need to sign up by the end of summer so that we can get WV Living and WV Tourism involved. We need to step up the game.
- Heasely said that his Visitor Bureau wants you to pay a $300 fee – but Luke says that it is supposed to be funded by hotel/motel tax so this may be illegal.
- Heasely requested auto-renewal for Maple Days on the website.
- Boone also requested auto-renewal for membership.
Luke Taylor-Ides FGU Update –
- ACER grant has been submitted to get a web developer and funding for the mobile sugar shack (the latter must be used for education).
- A report on the economic impact of Maple Days is coming out soon. It looks impressive.
- WVDA collaboration – info is clearer and easier to use
- Working with NAMSC (?) on using food grade isopropyl alcohol for cleanup – it will be legal Sept-Oct on the Federal Level
- Walnut and Sycamore research still in the works, and webinars will continue this summer
- He introduced Heather Harper who helps with communication
- He asked for ideas for webinars and other workshops in person. The in-person training ideas need 6 month advance notice.
- Mark Bowers suggested a candy and other value-added class
- You need to let Heather know if you want to go to Lake Erie.
- Penn State and OSU Appalachia Maple Camp will be in Pennsylvania in September
State Fair – made $2750 in 2022 with Cotton Candy. In 2023 it is August 10th to 18th, 11am to 6pm. Brandon Daniels is POC again.
Julie Stutler, NRCS and Jeff Barr –
- Representing USDA agencies. If you talk to Mary Marple on the phone, no need to do more.
- Farm Service agency has non-insured crops assistance
- Energy Assistance Programs and Value Added Products Assistance
- Technical Assistance And Conservation planning financial assistance- brush management, energy audits, flyers were provided.
- Farm Service Agency received COVID relief unless already participated – to make up for loss from 2020 – a loan.
- Sign up for EQUIP audit which is backlogged a year – they fund the audit. (I have to admit I was pretty lost during this whole NRCS section.)
- Luke brought up REIP grants but don’t waste time if you have less than 20K investment.
Date of Annual Meeting –
- We discussed setting a date such as the first Saturday in May but it was rejected. People want a date like with Maple Days, that is in perpetuity. The 3rd Weekend in April was approved, but it will sometimes clash with Easter.
NAMSC Rep – Mike Rechlin will be it again. WVMSPA pays $200.
Joe Hatton – WVDA
- Encouraging us to work with NRCS on forestry
- And attend NRCS public meetings which are virtual – you get an opportunity to have an impact on the conversation. Not many AG people attend.
- Surveys show maple production is growing. Be sure to fill out the survey.
- There are vacancies in the department
- WV still does not have avian flu, the US lost 65-70 million birds but V is not in the major fly routes. Valleys change air flows and help keep out infections.
- No leadership at maple camp at Potomac State College – may be opportunities there for educational purposes
- Census of Ag – call for engagement
- Joe went to Heasley and Hervey farms for MapleDay.
- WV Grown Festival had a huge turnout. Paul Ronk went and sold cotton candy.
- Willing to help facilitate with what we need at the fair – hope to get the mobile shack closer to the store.
- There was something about Process Authority that I don’t understand. VA Tech does this but is backlogged.
Other Business –
- Deadline on Dues is June 1 to get Maple Digest
- Financial Summary was provided by Heasley and approved by the membership
- Brandon Daniels has some of the metal signs
- Need Progress on adding new members to correspondence. (my bad)
- Minutes from 2022 were accepted
Election of New Officers:
President: Paul Ronk will continue
VP: Kody Boone was nominated and reluctantly accepted. Greg Christion, previous VP, was not present but made it clear ahead of time that he would only continue if no one else would.
Treasure – Keith Heasley will continue
Secretary – Cathy Hervey will take over for Tina Barton
At large:
Continuing in office: Michael Gray, Mark Boers, Tom Salvetti, Kris Marsh
Nominated: Herman Hill, Greg Christian, Chris Grimes, Kate Fotos
There was a move to accept all candidates without voting as there were no objections or competitive races. This motion was accepted.
This is the end of my time as secretary, and I really appreciate being trusted to serve these two years. I’m happy to continue with the website and with the newsletter.