25" of Hg).Increase profitability through equipment efficiency and new products.Test locally produced, low-cost, RO units under more rigorous production conditions to assess durability and efficiency of operation.Optimize UV light filter efficiency by investigating sap flow rates, pre-filtering and cleaning.Evaluate water jacket versus vacuum cooling of post- RO sap to determine if cooling reduces losses in sap quality.Determine feasibility of producing and selling alcohol and vinegar from late-season or low-quality syrup.Enhance woodland production for sap.Monitor changes in sap quality and quantity associated with crown thinning.Evaluate foliar fertilization as a strategy to accelerate seedling growth and reduce deer impacts.As a result of this work, the following outcomes are expected:As a result of this project, maple syrup production in New York will increase due to enhancements in tubing systems, the addition of woodlands owners as sap producers, and greater adoption of tap hole sanitation. The outcome of this research will be used in a tandem maple extension program (see below "stakeholders" and "integrated activities") where research results are used to develop extension products and activities such as workshops, maple schools, bulletins, notebooks, webinars, and extension educator training.Maple producers will have sugarbush thinning recommendations to guide their management practices. Our proposed rigorous study of the effects of thinning on sap quantity will allow management recommendations for producers to guide their thinning practices and optimize tree health and sap yield per acre.Maple producers will better understand options for sanitizing sap or concentrate when conditions of over production of sap overwhelm the boiling system or when labor issues or equipment failure demand that sap be held for an extended time. These options can also be available when looking to create alternative maple products by fermentation when the sap involved needs to be sanitized without destroying its character in an energy and labor efficient way.Maple producers will have knowledge of new products, especially those associated with poor quality sap. Our development of methods for new products will allow for prolonged production and subsequently products that producers will be able to sell. Extension products will include costs of production and processing, and suggest markets for these products.Producers will know how to optimize their production through energy efficient technologies such as reverse osmosis, and relative differences between commercial and non-commercial units. The energy efficiency of reverse osmosis has been documented through research and commercial applications. Our results will allow recommendations on the types of RO applicable to producers with different needs.' />
Source: CORNELL UNIVERSITY submitted to
IMPROVING MAPLE SAP QUALITY, EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTION AND PROFITABILITY THROUGH COLLECTION AND PROCESSING ENHANCEMENTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
MCINTIRE-STENNIS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1011208
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 28, 2016
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Project Director
Smallidge, PE.
Recipient Organization
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ITHACA,NY 14853
Performing Department
Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
The demand for maple syrup and related products continues to grow, the number of producers continues to increase, and the need for improved efficiency and production is sought by commercial and entry-level producers. Although maple syrup is one of New York's oldest agricultural endeavors, changes in technology continue to open this industry to a wider variety of producers and business strategies.Society benefits through access to sustainably produced local foods, and whose production contributes to the conservation of natural resources. Additionally, while the research proposed here emphasizes values for commercial producers, the technology scales to entry-level producers. Some entry-level producers persist as hobby or "back-yarders", yet others escalate into commercial production. Regardless of their development as a producer, entry-level and commercial producers are important within their communities as an illustration of the capacity of rural lands to be productive and healthy while contributing to local economies.The Cornell Maple Program works closely with an advisory committee of maple producers, CCE educators, and association leaders to identify the highest priority research needs. The research needs are identified based on existing practices or technologies that may be opportunistically enhanced, or because an existing need lacks a proven solution.Previous research and corresponding Extension programing has address 5/16" tubing system design and taphole sanitation, value-added products from high value sap and syrup, energy efficiency through reverse osmosis, and sugarbush management. Proposed research will build upon these topics to investigate smaller diameter tubing systems and natural vacuum, value-added products from low-quality sap and syrup, home-made versus commercial reverse osmosis systems, and quantifiable changes in maple tree growth and yield following thinning. Specific objectives are:Refine sap collection systems to increase production and reduce collection costs.Develop recommendations for the installation, use and cleaning of 3/16" tubing systems on a production scale. Test tap hole sanitation protocols established for 5/16" tubing systems on the different natural vacuum conditions created in 3/16" tubing systems.Evaluate claims of exponential sap yields under very high vacuum (>25" of Hg).Increase profitability through equipment efficiency and new products.Test locally produced, low-cost, RO units under more rigorous production conditions to assess durability and efficiency of operation.Optimize UV light filter efficiency by investigating sap flow rates, pre-filtering and cleaning.Evaluate water jacket versus vacuum cooling of post- RO sap to determine if cooling reduces losses in sap quality.Determine feasibility of producing and selling alcohol and vinegar from late-season or low-quality syrup.Enhance woodland production for sap.Monitor changes in sap quality and quantity associated with crown thinning.Evaluate foliar fertilization as a strategy to accelerate seedling growth and reduce deer impacts.As a result of this work, the following outcomes are expected:As a result of this project, maple syrup production in New York will increase due to enhancements in tubing systems, the addition of woodlands owners as sap producers, and greater adoption of tap hole sanitation. The outcome of this research will be used in a tandem maple extension program (see below "stakeholders" and "integrated activities") where research results are used to develop extension products and activities such as workshops, maple schools, bulletins, notebooks, webinars, and extension educator training.Maple producers will have sugarbush thinning recommendations to guide their management practices. Our proposed rigorous study of the effects of thinning on sap quantity will allow management recommendations for producers to guide their thinning practices and optimize tree health and sap yield per acre.Maple producers will better understand options for sanitizing sap or concentrate when conditions of over production of sap overwhelm the boiling system or when labor issues or equipment failure demand that sap be held for an extended time. These options can also be available when looking to create alternative maple products by fermentation when the sap involved needs to be sanitized without destroying its character in an energy and labor efficient way.Maple producers will have knowledge of new products, especially those associated with poor quality sap. Our development of methods for new products will allow for prolonged production and subsequently products that producers will be able to sell. Extension products will include costs of production and processing, and suggest markets for these products.Producers will know how to optimize their production through energy efficient technologies such as reverse osmosis, and relative differences between commercial and non-commercial units. The energy efficiency of reverse osmosis has been documented through research and commercial applications. Our results will allow recommendations on the types of RO applicable to producers with different needs.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12506201070100%
Knowledge Area
125 - Agroforestry;

Subject Of Investigation
0620 - Broadleaf forests of the North;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
OBJECTIVES: An overarching theme with many of these objectives is to scale-up research that has proven effective with small clusters of trees to an operational/production scale that includes large sections of a sugarbush or large volumes of sap. Refine sap collection systems to increase production and reduce collection costs.Develop recommendations for the installation, use and cleaning of 3/16" tubing systems on a production scale. Test tap hole sanitation protocols established for 5/16" tubing systems on the different natural vacuum conditions created in 3/16" tubing systems.Evaluate claims of exponential sap yields under very high vacuum (>25" of Hg).Increase profitability through equipment efficiency and new products.Test locally produced, low-cost, RO units under more rigorous production conditions to assess durability and efficiency of operation.Optimize UV light filter efficiency by investigating sap flow rates, pre-filtering and cleaning.Evaluate water jacket versus vacuum cooling of post- RO sap to determine if cooling reduces losses in sap quality.Determine feasibility of producing and selling alcohol and vinegar from late-season or low-quality syrup.Enhance woodland production for sap.Monitor changes in sap quality and quantity associated with crown thinning.Evaluate foliar fertilization as a strategy to accelerate seedling growth and reduce deer impacts.
Project Methods
PROCEDURE: Refine sap collection systems to increase production and reduce collection costs.Develop recommendations for the installation, use and cleaning of 3/16" tubing systems on a production scale. Account for the special needs of tap hole sanitation. Research to be conducted for a duration of three years.Phases of work: isolate sections of the Arnot sugarbush as replication blocks; Install 3/16th tubing using different designs within each block, replicated throughout the sugarbush; integrate tap hole sanitation in each replication; collect sap yield and sugar data at collection units. Design treatments will include (1) 5/16" tubing with vacuum, (2) 5/16" tubing and 3/16" tubing on slopes greater than 15 PCT with and without vacuum, and (3) 3/16" tubing on slopes less than 5 PCT including its use as a sap ladder. Within each design treatment, tap hole sanitation will compare food-grade silver impregnated spiles, check-valves, and polycarbonate spiles.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: Canister and tank collection units, plastic food grade. Vacuum mainline for evacuating collection units.Evaluate claims of exponential sap yields under very high vacuum (>25" of Hg).Phases of work: isolate three zones of the Arnot sugarbush and install vacuum units; during the production season, calibrate sap flow per tap among vacuum units at a standard level, then increase one vacuum to moderate levels (20 to 25" Hg) and a third to high levels (>25" Hg). Three sections of the sugarbush are isolated and connected to three distinct vacuum pumps with sufficient capacity for the tubing system. Calibration of the plot yield will be established at 0 vacuum. After calibration, individual pumps will be increased to moderate or high levels and sap flow will be monitored. Sap yield will be expressed on a per tap basis for a given level of vacuum with variation between sap runs within and among a vacuum section.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: Three vacuum pumps with high vacuum capacity, tubing systems.Increase profitability through equipment efficiency and new products.Test locally produced low cost RO under more rigorous production conditions to assess durability and efficiency of operation. Research will be conducted for a duration of 3 years.Phases of work: Configure sap collection units (e.g., releasers or tanks) to plumb into one of several RO units; during production season monitor flow rate, pressure, and output sugar concentration. Configure units to run in parallel and serial paths. Assessment of efficiency, productivity and profitability will be based on (1) time required for processing sap to a given sugar concentration, (2) frequency and time required to clean each RO, (3) unit cost for a standard depreciation schedule, and (4) capacity of a unit for concentration to sugar concentrations of 6, 8 and 10 percent.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: Three or more locally produced RO units and one commercial unit with twin towers.Optimize sap sterilization by comparing UV light filters and pre-heater units on evaporators. Research will be conducted for a duration of 3 years.Phases of work: At four times during the season, fresh sap will be passed through a UV light filter designed for sap or through a sap preheater attached to the evaporator to act as a pasteurizer, each method providing some level of sterilization. Prior to processing, glucose levels of the sap will be measured with a glucose meter as a baseline index of microbial activity. Twelve 10 ml samples will be collected in sterile vials. On days 1, 3, 6 and 10 after collection the samples will be measured for glucose levels as a measure of effects of microbial fermentation. In subsequent years, treated samples will proceed to sanitized 40 gallon barrels and >1000 gallon collection tanks to simulate how commercial operations will experience different methods of sap sterilization.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: Standard sap UV filter, evaporator-mounted pre-heater, glucose meter.Evaluate water jacket versus vacuum cooling of post- RO sap to determine if cooling reduces losses in sap quality.Phases of work: Plumb outflow of RO unit to allow for cooling and/or UV treatment. Monitor flow and microbial loading in post-RO concentrate. The concentrate from an RO will be alternatively directed through a water-jacket chiller versus vacuum cooling chamber with temperature measurements before and after cooling. Cooled sap will be monitored on regular intervals for microbial fermentation activity using a glucose meter.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: RO unit, cooling by water jacket and vacuum chamber, microbial testing facilityDevelop method that use late-season and low-quality sap and syrup to produce alcohol and vinegar. Research will be conducted for a duration of 3 years.Phases of work: Collect late season sap after table grade syrup is no longer being produced due to poor sap quality. The sap will be filtered, concentrated using the RO, sterilized in the evaporator and transferred to air controlled tanks or barrels for fermentation. Selected inoculants will be added based on desired end products and fermentation temperatures and times observed. Fermentation end products would be evaluated for quality and potential saleable options.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research Forest and Cornell Food Venture CenterFacilities and equipment: Sand and fiber filters, RO, uv light, evaporator, pumps, tanks and barrels are currently available at the Arnot Forest along with pH and sugar meters. Additional food quality evaluation advice and testing will be sought through the Cornell Food Science Department.Enhance woodland production for sap.Monitor changes in sap quality and quantity associated with crown thinning. Duration 3 years.Phases of work: Identify areas of the sugarbush suitable to thinning; install collection canisters to isolate lateral lines; after the first production season, thin sugarbush to standard densities and monitor sap sugar and sap yield in subsequent seasons. Research areas of the sugarbush will be selected to include: soils of adequate quality and drainage, >90 square feet of basal area, and average maple diameters between 12 and 18 inches. Within these areas, lateral lines will be isolated to research collection canisters and sap yield collected for the first sap season (2017). In the 2017 growing season the lines supplying randomly selected canisters will be assigned a thinning treatment for a stocking reduction to 60 and 80 percent relative stocking density. Unthinned areas will be distinct from and buffered from the thinned areas. Sap yield and sap sugar concentration of thinning treatments will be compared to pre-thinning values and to unthinned controls. Thinned and control areas will be monitored for tree growth and the rate of tap hole closure.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: 12 to 16 collection canisters on vacuum or 3/16th systemsEvaluate foliar fertilization as a strategy to accelerate seedling growth and reduce deer impacts.Phases of work: using an existing network of fenced exclosures, locate plots with sugar maple seedlings inside and outside exclosures. Assign plots to a control and two levels of foliar fertilization. Maple seedlings in 1/100th acre plots will be assigned to treatments of control, a single treatment in late May, or treatments every 10 days in May and June. Seedlings will be measured before treatment, and in subsequent growing seasons for height and incidence of deer browsing.Location: Arnot Teaching and Research ForestFacilities and equipment: Fenced exclosures, established sugar maple seedlings, and foliar nutritional quality testing facility

Progress 11/28/16 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The Cornell Maple Program works with a broad range of stakeholders from backyard hobbyists to large-scale commercial producers as well as some commercial maple product marketers and food companies. Much of the research is scalable for any size operation. Additionally, some workshops and presentations are specifically designed for beginners and small producers looking to expand their operations, while others are tailored to the needs of commercial producers. Research and extension activities are also targeted to educators and researchers in the Cornell Cooperative Extension network, government agencies, maple producer associations and the university system. These experts multiply the effectiveness of maple program research by disseminating information to a broader audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Current research projects have provided opportunities for professional development and training through the cooperative extension network, professional in-service programs, and training programs with industry professionals. A two day maple in-service for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and natural resource specialists was held in the research forest each year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results have been disseminated through a combination of workshops, conferences, publications and digital media. Cornell maple specialists conduct workshops and maple schools throughout the year in every region of the state. Twice each year the staff of the Cornell Maple Program meet with and share research and extension materials with other state and province maple related research and extension staff. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? These results from FY2019 build upon results from the previous reports, and in aggregate represent the cumulative final report. Goal and Issue Outputs and Outcomes Refine sap collection systems to increase production and reduce collection costs. Develop recommendations for the installation, use and cleaning of 3/16" tubing systems on a production scale. Test tap hole sanitation protocols established for 5/16" tubing systems on the different natural vacuum conditions created in 3/16" tubing systems. 2. Evaluate claims of exponential sap yields under very high vacuum (>25" of Hg). 1.1 Extensive sap collection system testing was conducted during the 2019 sugaring season including 13 replicated trials and 5 system-scale tests for tap hole sanitation treatments with a total of 6,800 taps devoted to research purposes. Significant findings include determining clogged T's to be primarily responsible for yield loss in old 3/16" tubing, 94% yield increases through innovative retapping methods, and expanded data showing value of several sanitation practices including spout and drop sanitation with bleach, and effectiveness of antimicrobial spouts. 1.2 Two additional rotary vane vacuum pumps were installed and vacuum monitors added for vacuum research. A 1,000 tap 5/16" research system removed from the woods, redesigned and completely reconstructed with extensive dry line improvements and 15 additional remote vacuum monitors were added to the system. Consistency of vacuum to the trees was improved dramatically moving from having the system go to no vacuum every time a freeze occurred to going to zero vacuum only twice for the whole sap season and that being only during the two nights with the lowest temperatures following a sap flow the day before. With the better pump and line system the vacuum held consistently at 24 to 25" of vacuum at the tree. An improvement of 3 to 5" depending on the specific line. Tests were accomplished both with the electronic monitoring system and the gauges on the 74 research canisters. 2 Increase profitability through equipment efficiency and new products. Test locally produced, low-cost, RO units under more rigorous production conditions to assess durability and efficiency of operation. Optimize UV light filter efficiency by investigating sap flow rates, pre-filtering and cleaning. Evaluate plate cooling of post- RO sap to determine if cooling reduces losses in sap quality. Determine feasibility of producing and selling alcohol and vinegar from late-season or low-quality syrup. 2.1 Twenty cooperators have constructed small Reverse osmosis units and tested them in production. Cooperators reported efficiency gains of 50 to 75% and all units functioned properly through the sugaring season. YouTube videos produced by the program detailing small RO construction have generated over 125,000 views and an article written by program staff was published in the Maple News in December 2017. We are aware of 6 companies that now produce and sell small RO units to the maple industry. 2.2 An additional series of tests was conducted on UV light under varying flow rates and bacteria loads. Earlier results showed diminishing effectiveness under heavy bacteria loads common in late season sap with a 50% reduction in live bacteria. With better controlled flow rates yeast counts ran as low as 4 CFUs/ml at flow rates less than 71 gal/hr and as high as 725 CFUs/ml in raw untreated sap. Bacterial ranged from 73 CFUs/ml at a flow rate of 43 gal/hr to over 10,000 CFUs/ml in the untreated sap. This would reflect about a 140x reduction in bacteria and yeast at these flow rates. At 50 to 60 degrees F it would take about 9 hours for the microbe numbers to get back to the starting counts, or sap could be effectively stored for 5 to 8 hours or more if sap temperatures were lower. 2.3 A plate cooler test was run to determine how effective it would be at cooling sap. Flow rate is again a key factor but with flow rates of 5 gallons per minute, that is equal to the output of the reverse osmosis capacity at the Arnot Forest the cooling plate cooled the sap to the same temperature as the source cool water in one pass. 2.4 Vinegar trials were conducted to identify best dilution rates, vinegar mother varieties and fermentation environment for the production of high quality maple vinegar. Maple wine production guidelines were developed in collaboration with the Cornell Department of Food Science. Guidelines are published in a notebook and available as a PDF of the maple program website. Maple kombucha production guidelines were developed and published including sample recipes. 3. Enhance woodland production for sap. 1. Monitor changes in sap quality and quantity associated with crown thinning. Evaluate foliar fertilization as a strategy to accelerate seedling growth and reduce deer impacts. 3.1 Forty-three sugar maple trees were sorted by crown class and fitted with research collection canisters to isolate and document pre-treatment production of sap and sap sugar. Sap flow and sap sugar were monitored throughout the year. Trees were characterized for dbh, crown class, number of times previously tapped, two-dimensional crown projection, and live crown ratio. The sugarbush was commercially thinned during fy2018 and new tubing installed. Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators and the Eastern Research Forest Managers learned about the results of the thinning project and installation of deer exclusion fencing. The project documented that increased tree growth results in higher syrup yield due to increased sap yield; sap sugar concentration is unrelated to growth. 3.2 The results of 3 years of foliar feeding trials indicate that foliar feeding is not an effective method for increasing maple seedling survival and growth rates due to the lack of a significant growth response and herbivory by deer.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Childs, S.L. 2019. It could be the Ts. The Maple News. 18(7): 1,23.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Clyne, A.B. 2019. Maple kombucha could be the next big thing. The Maple News. 18(8): 1,26.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Childs, S.L., A.R. Wightman, and A.B. Clyne. 2019. Maple Syrup Production Beginners Notebook.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Skeval, D.A. 2018. Understanding NYS 480-a forest tax law. P.J. Smallidge, column editor. New York Forest Owner 56(6): 6-7,18-19.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2018. Deer protection options to reduce browse impact. New York Forest Owner 56(5):6-7, 18-19.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2019. Assessing a maple woods for sap and syrup production. New York Forest Owner 57(3):6-7, 18-19.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2019. Managing woodlands to improve wildlife habitat. New York Forest Owner 57(1): 6-7, 18-19. Reprinted in Cornell Small Farms Quarterly https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2019/10/managing-woodlands-to-improve-wildlife-habitat/
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2019. Promoting healthy tree growth in a young forest. New York Forest Owner 57(2): 6-7, 18-19.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2019. Treatment of single stems of undesired woody plants. New York Forest Owner 57(4):6-7, 18-19, 23.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2021 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. M. Isselhardt, A. DAmato, G. Graham. (in editorial review) Sugarbush management for syrup production and forest health. Chapter X, pages xx-xx, in the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, 4th edition.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wightman, A.R. 2019. Get it bubbling: dissolved oxygen improves syrup quality. The Maple News. 18(8): 1, 23.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wightman, A.R. 2019. Maple makes inroads with athletes. The Pipeline. 1(2): 5.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wightman, A.R. 2019. Running on maple: maple sports gel could fill growing market niche. The Maple News. 18(9):1,25.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wightman, A.R. 2019. Maple wine 101: another path to profits. The Maple News. 18(7): 1, 24.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The Cornell Maple Program works with a broad range of stakeholders from backyard hobbyists to large-scale commercial producers. Much of the research is scalable for any size operation. Additionally, some workshops and presentations are specifically designed for beginners and small producers looking to expand their operations, while others are tailored to the needs of commercial producers. Research and extension activities are also targeted to educators and researchers in the Cornell Cooperative Extension network, government agencies and the university system. These experts multiply the effectiveness of maple program research by disseminating information to a broader audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Current research projects have provided opportunities for professional development and training through the cooperative extension network, professional in-service programs, and training programs with industry professionals. A two day maple in-service for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and natural resource specialists was held in the research forest. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results have been disseminated through a combination of workshops, conferences, publications and digital media. Cornell maple specialists conduct workshops and maple schools throughout the year in every region of the state. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Replicated trials of tap hole sanitation will continue with some new treatments and continuation of other trials. New treatments will include 3/16 silver spouts and retapping. Evaluation of large scale installation of tubing and tap hole treatments will take place in 2019 to measure sap output. Comparative large scale production tests will be conducted on newly constructed 1,000 tap 5/16 and 3/16 collection systems. Evaluations of vacuum performance in relation to dry line capacity will be conducted in the 2019 production season. Improved time lapse video methods will be employed to further explore the relationship between temperature, tree pressure and sap flow. Tests of RO performance at different sap temperatures will be conducted. Plate cooling of sap and sap chemical changes over time will be studied with measurements of temperature, PH, dissolved oxygen and sensory evaluations of flavor. Studies of maple fermentation will continue with further tests of alcohol, vinegar and other fermented products including beer and kombucha. Research into the impact of crown thinning on sap production and sugar content will continue in the 2019 season.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1.1 Extensive sap collection system testing was conducted during the 2018 sugaring season including 13 replicated trials and 7 system-scale tests for tap hole sanitation treatments with a total of 6,000 taps devoted to research purposes. Tests focused on solutions to 3/16" sap pull-back issues. Results indicate improved yields from 5/16" drops with silver spouts on 3/16" lateral lines, while 3/16" check valves performed poorly in both replicated trials and a large-scale test on 1,000 taps. Other research included further tests of 5/16" sanitation alternatives, options for boosting sap flow rate through main lines, and time lapse videos to capture relationships between tree pressure, temperature and sap flow. A new 1,000 tap 3/16" sap collection system was constructed for use in the 2019 season. A total of 7,000 taps are now available for research in the Arnot Forest Research Sugarbush. An innovative retapping study was undertaken in 2018 wherein a new tap hole was drilled directly above the existing tap hole late in the season. This method yielded significant sap volume gains without reducing the tappable circumference of the tree. 1.2 Two additional rotary vane vacuum pumps were installed and vacuum monitors added for vacuum research. A 1,000 tap 5/16" research system removed from the woods, redesigned and completely reconstructed with extensive dry line improvements and 15 additional remote vacuum monitors were added to the system. 2.1 Twenty cooperators have constructed small Reverse osmosis units and tested them in production. Cooperators reported efficiency gains of 50 to 75% and all units functioned properly through the sugaring season. YouTube videos produced by the program detailing small RO construction have generated over 100,000 views and an article written by program staff was published in the Maple News in December 2017. 2.2 An additional series of tests was conducted on UV light under varying flow rates and bacteria loads. Results showed diminishing effectiveness under heavy bacteria loads common in late season sap with a 50% reduction in live bacteria. 2.3 A plate cooler utilizing a natural heat sink was designed and constructed during the reporting period and will be tested extensively during the 2019 sugaring season. Tests will examine energy transfer efficiency and impacts on post sap quality. 2.4 Cornell food science students studied feasibility of producing distilled alcohol from late season sap in cooperation with maple program staff. A problem that resulted in ropy fermentation was identified and resolved and a high-quality spirit was produced. Tests were conducted to evaluate vinegar produced from late season sap and off-flavored syrups. Late season sap produced a usable vinegar with favorable flavors. Off-flavored syrup produced vinegar with unfavorable flavors. Maple fermentation and distillation guidelines are being incorporated into a guidebook in cooperation with the Cornell Enology and Viticulture Program. 3.1 Forty-three sugar maple trees were sorted by crown class and fitted with research collection canisters to isolate and document pre-treatment production of sap and sap sugar. Sap flow and sap sugar were monitored throughout the year. Trees were characterized for dbh, crown class, number of times previously tapped, two-dimensional crown projection, and live crown ratio. The sugarbush was commercially thinned during fy2018 and new tubing installed. Research canisters were installed on the research trees and prepped for the 2019 season. 3.2 A final trial of foliar feeding was conducted as a means to accelerate maple seedling growth beyond the range of deer browse. The results showed this method is ineffective with a lower average growth rate in fertilized plots (4.8 in/yr) compared to control plots (5.2 in/yr).

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Childs, S.L. 2017, Working with little RO⿿s for syrup production. Small Farms Quarterly Fall 2017. Pp 10-11.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Childs, S.L. 2017. Tap hole sanitation research in the 2017 season. Maple News 16(9): 8-9.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Childs, S.L. and A.R. Wightman. 2018. 2018 maple season replicated retap study. Maple News 17(8): 19.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2018. Deer protection options to reduce browse impact. New York Forest Owner 56(5):6-7, 18-19.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2018. Managing small woodlot parcels. Small Farms Quarterly Summer 2018. Pp 18-19.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Smallidge, P.J. 2018. Seasonal strategies to control American beech. NY Forest Owner 56 (3): 6-7, 18-19


Progress 11/28/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The Cornell Maple Program works with a broad range of stakeholders from backyard hobbyists to large scale commercial producers. Much of the research is scalable for any size operation. Additionally, some workshops and presentations are specifically designed for beginners and small producers looking to expand their operations, while others are tailored to the needs of commercial producers. Research and extension activities are also targeted to educators and researchers in the Cornell Cooperative Extension network, government agencies and the university system. These experts multiply the effectiveness of maple program research by disseminating information to a broader audience. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Current research projects have provided opportunities for professional development and training through the cooperative extension network, professional in-service programs, and training programs with industry professionals. A two day maple in-service for cooperative extension educators and natural resource specialists was held in the research forest. Maple producers, participated in a 4 day maple camp in July. An agroforestry workshop for cooperative extension educators, farmers and woodlot owners included an overview on maple syrup production. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results have been disseminated through a combination of workshops, conferences, publications and digital media. Cornell maple specialists conduct workshops and maple schools throughout the year in every region of the state. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Replicated trials of tap hole sanitation will continue with some new treatments and continuation of other trials. Evaluation of large scale installation of tubing and tap hole treatments will take place in 2018 and 2019 to measure sap output. The effectiveness of a wet line/ dry line tubing system for increasing sap yield at regular vacuum and high vacuum will be measured and observed in a variety of configurations in the 2018 production season. Time lapse cameras have been installed to provide additional observational data of sap flow and tree pressure in relation to temperature. Comparative reverse osmosis membrane tests will be conducted with the use of the newly acquired RO unit. Also, field trials of small and homemade RO's will continue. The efficacy of UV sanitation of sap will be retested with revised laboratory methods. Plate cooling of sap as a means of preventing spoilage will tested in 2018. Sap fermentation and distillation studies will continue in cooperation with the Cornell enology program with the goal of developing refined procedures for sap fermentation. Initial tests of vinegar fermentation will take place in the sugarhouse. Sugarbush trees will be monitored, and new trees added based on those that will have their crown released following thinning.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1.1Trials of tubing configurations, sanitation techniques and vacuum systems continue at Cornell's research forest. Replicated trials for 11 tap hole sanitation methods, with four replications for each treatment were conducted in the 2017 maple production season. These trials included the use of sanitizers, check valves and antibacterial spouts and build upon past research in tap hole sanitation with the aim of maximizing sap production per tap. The results of these trials yielded information critical to the long term operability of 3/16" tubing systems, as well as refined protocols for managing 5/16" tubing. Additionally, tubing installation and sanitation protocols were installed on a large scale, in conditions that simulate a commercial-sized maple operation. Each of the existing 4,700 taps in the research forest was treated in accordance with a tap hole sanitation protocol. These treatments are segregated into separate vacuum and tubing systems with multiple points for observation of sap output and quality. Also, 1,300 new taps were installed in 2017 using 3/16" tubing on steep slopes to further evaluate the efficiency of these systems on a large scale. 1.2 Extensive upgrades to the tubing system and the installation of a new rotary-vane vacuum pump capable of producing very high vacuum will allow for tests of sap yields on a variety of vacuum levels. Tubing upgrades included the installation of 5,400 feet of new 1.5 inch vacuum lines and 1,500 feet of 1 inch vacuum lines. The vacuum lines were connected to the main sap collection lines every 500 feet with a connection, shut off valve and observation point consisting of clear tubing. A remote vacuum monitoring system was also installed. 2.1 Small, inexpensive reverse osmosis units were built and tested in the research sugarbush in 2017. These units proved effective in increasing sugar content and improving operational efficiency in sap processing. An additional commercial sized RO unit has been purchased and installed for comparative RO membrane tests. 2.2 Samples of sap with different levels of UV treatment were collected and sent to a third party laboratory for analysis. Two trials yielded inconclusive results. 2.4 Late season sap was distilled into a high-quality 60% ABV alcohol at the end of the 2017 season. Sap was collected, concentrated to 20% sugar concentration, heat pasteurized in the evaporator and placed in sterilized stainless steel barrels. University researchers in the Cornell Viticulture and Enology Program fermented and distilled the sap to produce the final alcohol. 3.1 Thirty sugar maple trees were sorted by crown class and fitted with research collection canisters to isolate and document pre-treatment production of sap and sap sugar. Sap flow and sap sugar were monitored throughout the year. Trees were characterized for dbh, crown class, number of times previously tapped, two-dimensional crown projection, and live crown ratio. A second year of monitoring is planned before these trees will receive thinning treatments to study effects of increased light. 3.2 Trials of foliar fertilization were assessed to monitor seedling growth. No effects were observed. Trials will continue in 2018.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Childs, S. 2017 Results in from 2017 3/16 tubing research, The Maple News 16(summer)
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Childs, S. 2017 Working with Little Reverse Osmosis Units for Syrup Production, Small Farm Quarterly, October 2, 2017, 10-11