It’s been a tough spring for maple syrup producers in Grey Bruce as the warm dry weather had a huge negative impact on production.
Nick Bereznick is the President of the Grey Bruce Maple Syrup Producers Association and he says this is one of the worst crop years they have experienced in decades.
He says there were wild fluctuations in production all across the region with some producers only getting only 20 per cent of their normal amount of syrup to others getting about 60 per cent of their normal crop.
He says a lack of moisture in the ground coupled with the above average warm weather during the March break resulted in a total stopping of the sap run.
Bereznick says while the volume of syrup is way down, the quality of the product is once again very good this year.
He feels that the shortage of syrup could result in higher prices, but is not to worried the poor crop will force some producers out of business.
Bereznick, says maple syrup producers are a very hardy breed and like other farmers are looking for the next year to be a better year.
He says one option the Provincial Association is looking at is perhaps introducing some form of crop insurance program for maple syrup producers to help them better weather these bad crop years.