Source: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON submitted to NRP
MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION FROM BIG LEAF MAPLE TREES IN THE RIPARIAN ZONES OF WASHINGTON'S FORESTS
Sponsoring Institution
Other Cooperating Institutions
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1021900
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Dec 11, 2019
Project End Date
Sep 29, 2022
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
SEATTLE,WA 98195
Performing Department
Sustainable Resource Management
Non Technical Summary
Most people do not realize that maple syrup can be produced on the west coast from bigleaf maple trees (Acer macrophyllum). Our project seeks to determine the best practices to facilitate the development of a commercial maple syrup industry in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Whereas a small number of hobbyists are currently tapping bigleaf maples in the PNW, a tremendous opportunity exists for more farmers and forest landowners to utilize bigleaf maple for sap and syrup production to bring additional income and diversity to their farming and forestry operations. Before landowners are willing to invest in this opportunity, they must understand the costs and benefits involved in starting a maple sugaring enterprise in the PNW and the specific details of tapping bigleaf maples in a temperate rainforest climate. We will do the research necessary to provide educational opportunities on how to develop the most successful and cost-effective sugaring enterprises with bigleaf maple in the PNW. Specific projects involve determining the volume of sap and syrup that can be produced according to the following variables (1) different elevations, latitude, and climatic zones (2) collection methods using traditional bucket collection vs. high vacuum tubing systems, (3) size and health of bigleaf maple trees, (4) timing of tapping and strategies such as reaming of existing tapholes or retapping trees throughout the season (December-March). We will conduct the research over 3 years to account for the natural variability that occurs in sap flow every year due to localized weather conditions.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
60%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
5020699301050%
6050613107050%
Knowledge Area
605 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics; 502 - New and Improved Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general; 0613 - Mixed conifer-broadleaf forests;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
We are reporting on this USDA-AMS award as a state project simply so that it appears on our financial report template. Further information about this research project is available upon request.
Project Methods
NA