Missouri-made maple syrup produced at MU’s Baskett Forest.
Maple trees (Acer saccharum, rubrum, and saccharinum) and others including black walnut (Juglans nigra) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) that are abundant in the lower Midwest can be tapped for their flowing sap in late winter as temperatures begin to warm above freezing during the daytime. Processed into syrup, sugar, and other value-added products, this sweet forest treat is healthy and delicious. The Center for Agroforestry, with producers and Extension partners, are working to grow awareness of this non-timber forest product as a pathway to forest health and diversified forest harvests.
Here you’ll find a compendium of resources available on tree sugaring, from tapping, production and processing, to bottling and marketing. The resources are organized by region; keep in mind that climate and market contexts vary between regions. As more publications and other media are released specifically for lower Midwest sugaring, they will be added to this hub. For specific questions, contact us here.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Midwest Tree Syrup Producers Conference!
In 2022, the University of Missouri, with the Missouri Maple Syrup Initiative and Missouri Maple Syrup Facebook group, recruited producers for an anonymous survey to understand the production costs and sales revenues for maple syrup products in this region. This is designed to help us develop online tools and educational material to benefit people interested in syrup production.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the The Missouri Sugarmaker Survey and interviews!
Below, you’ll find the downloadable producer worksheet that can be used to help track your annual production and sales, as well as the final report produced from the 2022 survey and interviews.
This report was authored by Alan Spell and Luke Dietterle as part of the University of Missouri Extension Exceed – Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development program. The survey, interviews, and reporting are funded by an Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) grant provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service.
The newest release from the MU Acer project is a comprehensive guide to Marketing Maple Syrup in this unique region.
Learn about demand for Missouri syrup, distinguishing syrup products through quality, aging, type of syrup, packing, and grading, pricing trends, options for selling, labeling requirements, and more.
Missouri tree syrup makers are connected to the forest in an intimate way, attending to late winter temperature fluctuations, noticing their trees’ health, and delighting in a sap flow that will result (with much time and care) in a sweet reward. Maples are not a preferred species in these forests, but where abundant, tapping them can yield a sustainable source of nutritious sugars. The Center for Agroforestry’s new project “Putting Maple on the Map in the Lower Midwest” highlights the important role these trees play in forest farming and ecological health.
Wisconsin Extension forestry specialist Tony Johnson discusses how maple syrup production can open doors for other agroforestry enterprises, and how Wisconsin woodland owners can get started.
Review the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Forest Management Guidelines and seek input from a professional forester to gain insights and practical advice on how to manage your sugarbush.
The Cornell Maple Programoffers maple calculators, an events calendar, curricula, instructional videos, product research and development, and more. Here’s a sample of some of the available resources:
The Cornell Maple Program presents Sweet Talk, with hosts, co-directors of CMP, Aaron Wightman and Adam Wild. Your hosts will present the latest research, news, and trends in the maple industry, with various guests including other maple researchers, industry experts, and local sugarmakers.
Appalachia
Future Generations University in West Virginia has compiled Syrup resources not only for maple but also for black walnut and sycamore trees. They also host a tree sugaring curriculum for youth. Check out the full site for all publications. Here are a few of our favorites:
