Eastern areas in Ontario may still be waiting for the few final sap drops to flow but most Eastern producers have ended their sap season. The Algoma area also reports that they have wrapped up sap collection now. From initial reports it sounds as though production of syrup was down from average in 1999. Areas of Southwestern Ontario near the Lakes are reporting to have had the best production success for the province with several producers calling it an average cropping year with predominantly good quality light and medium syrup. We will watch for the final report when all is said and done.
Soil moisture is still quite low where drought was a problem last year.
A Wellington county tile drainage contractor is observing powdery dry soil at depths of 2 feet below the upper moist soil layers. These dry conditions can't be helping the health of our deeper rooted sugar maples. If we get another droughty growing season in 1999 maple producers should seriously think about reduced tapping for the year 2000 or for very shallow soils - no tapping. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we will get enough rain this year to replenish soil moisture and ease any drought stresses in our sugar bushes. At the end of the sap flow season and you are finished tapping your maple trees remove the taps or spiles from the trees as soon as you have a chance to get into the woods.