Maple Producer 2020 Season Highlight - Mapleland Farms

Steam Billows from the Mapleland Farms Sugar House. Photo by Eric Jenks
 

2020 has been a year of challenges and changes for most of the world, as Covid-19 reshapes how we interact on a daily basis with others. While being out in the woods can help remove yourself from some of that stress, producers of all kinds have had to react to changing markets and sales in the face of economic downturns and upswings this year. For maple producers, Covid-19 is just another challenge to tackle, as the weather is the main fickle and unpredictable part of the business. Mapleland Farms (MLF), a maple producer in Salem, NY, with over 18,000 taps and hundreds of acres to manage, the 2020 season has been about adapting to new market conditions and keeping up with a growing woodlot. “Covid-19 has certainly changed what we’re selling the most of right now,” said Dave Campbell, co-owner of MLF. “Liquid Syrup sales are up for home delivery, and candy sales are down because restaurants and other businesses have been closed up. That’s starting to change as businesses reopen and place orders again. Covid-19 has changed the way that we’ve been marketing our product for the past few months quite a bit. We’re lucky that we’re diversified enough in different markets that we’ve been able to adjust and keep moving products, unlike some other producers that may only have a retail operation for their own products that have had to shut down.

 

US Secretary of Agriculture Issues Memorandum to the Chief of the Forest Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA Photo by Preston Keres

June 12, 2020 As Secretary of Agriculture, it is my duty to ensure our National Forests and Grasslands are on a path to health and productivity so they can continue to meet the needs of citizens and communities, both now and into the future.

It is the first priority of the Forest Service to serve the American people and work in ways that exemplify the values of Shared Stewardship.  We need modern systems and approaches and less complicated regulations to serve our customers and improve our delivery of the goods and services that the American people want and need from the Nation’s Forest System.

DEC: Biocontrol Silver Flies Released at High Tor Wildlife Management Area in Yates County

 

New York State Hemlock Initiative recently released biocontrol silver flies at High Tor Wildlife Management Area in Yates County as part of a statewide effort to manage the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). The NYS Hemlock Initiative has been researching biocontrol efforts for more than a decade to help stop HWA and the threat they pose to hemlocks. Silver flies are a predator of HWA and have been effective in controlling the pests in the Pacific Northwest. They are able to reproduce in our climate, but at this point there is very little risk that they would become invasive. Before releasing a new biocontrol, 1) the species is studied in a quarantine facility, 2) then it is proven to be safe and that it doesn’t affect non-target species (in this case, HWA). 4) Then the program needs to acquire federal permits and approval to release the biocontrol (permits are regulated by USDA APHIS). Steps 3 and 4 take years to get approval. Then the biocontrol can be released. Following release, the insects establishment and impact are closely monitored – that’s the stage we’re in now with the silver flies.

— Upcoming Events —

    
The four sides of the Tree Farm sign: Water. Wildlife. Recreation. Wood.

 

Contact us at the NY Tree Farm Office: PO Box 24, Washington Square, Greenwich, NY 12834, (518) 854-7386, nytreefarm@gmail.com.