How climate change is affecting Ontario maple syrup producers
Maple syrup producers in the national capital region are seeing the effects of climate change, and if those changes continue, there could be long-term effects for the maple syrup landscape in North America.
At Wheelers Maple in Lanark County, they did something this year they've never done before - tap trees in January.
"Traditionally here in Lanark County our maple syrup season starts early to mid-March through to the middle of April," co-owner Mark Wheeler tells CTV News.
Two weeks after tapping, Wheelers was boiling its first batch of syrup on Valentine's Day - again, the earliest the team ever done so. The previous earliest boil was Feb. 20, 2018.
Wheeler credits a mild winter for the record start to the season and notes it's a trend he's seeing become more regular.
"On average, it's been kind of inching earlier."
Maple producers across Ontario are also noting the warming temperatures and the effects of climate change.
"Although it's of concern, I don't think sugaring as we know it is going to be in any type of jeopardy down the road," says Ray Bonenberg, treasurer and head of communications for the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association.
The world's only maple belt is situated in North America and is an area that stretches as far north as the tip of Lake Superior, as far south as Tennessee, west to Missouri, and east to Newfoundland.
The sweet spot for soil enrichment to create flavour lays around southwestern Ontario and Pennsylvania.
Bonenberg says just south of that region, effects of climate change are being seen.
"I've seen in some of the southern states and areas in southwestern Ontario that the sugar content was quite low."
"The sap likes it cold, the syrup likes it cold," he explains.
Bonenberg says that the ideal weather for maple syrup is a swing of five degrees during the day and minus five at night.
He adds that producers in Lanark and Renfrew counties could actually benefit from climate change if that ideal weather window were to be pushed north due to rising temperatures.
"I don't see a negative impact on a slight temperature increase over the next 100 to 200 years."
"If we had another degree or two the sap would run really well," adds Wheeler.
The maple syrup producer in Lanark County says the early start hasn't impacted syrup production or flavour negatively at this point, and the result is sticky success.
"Because we've had a fairly mild winter the sap was really, really good right from the start," says Wheeler. "It was very sweet."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.