With temperatures reaching into the 60s in Massachusetts — and the 40s and 50s in parts of Maine — this week, some maple syrup producers are tapping their trees and are already seeing early sap runs.
With temperatures expected to reach the 60s in parts of Massachusetts this week, maple syrup producers are tapping their trees and are already seeing early sap runs — a month earlier than usual.
A few members of the association are already making their first batches of maple syrup, according to Pitcoff. Jason Lillley with the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension said in recent years, the maple season has been gradually getting shorter and starting earlier. And while brief warm spells in January and February are relatively common, the extended periods of warm weather this winter mean that southern Maine maple producers are out working a bit earlier than usual.