Maple Syrup - A new record-breaking harvest despite the pandemic

LONGUEUIL, QC - Almost four months after the official launch of the 2020 sugaring off season, the Québec Maple Syrup Producers, in partnership with the Maple Industry Council, have announced a new record for maple syrup production. This year's harvest is estimated at more than 175 million pounds of maple syrup for all of Québec, an average yield of 3.59 pounds per tap.

 

Although the pandemic had an impact on processes and methods, the syrup kept on flowing. An additional 2.3 million taps in the last two years and a chilly April could explain why this season was so successful. "We're delighted at the announcement. After an uncertain start to the season and a bumpy road along the way, it's very welcome news," said Serge Beaulieu, Québec Maple Syrup Producers president since 2007. "The resilience and ingenuity of our maple syrup producers during the pandemic has certainly paid off, and I couldn't be happier. This most unusual year is one we won't forget. It will go down in the history of our organization," he added.

 

As for maple syrup buyers, the Maple Industry Council president Sylvain Lalli said he too was proud of everything his members have done since March to ensure operations can continue safely. "Despite the pandemic, retail demand for syrup has remained strong, and we hope that sales to hotels, restaurants, and institutions and to gift shops, all of which have been hit hard, will pick up," he added.

 

 

COVID-19 caused plenty of hiccups for maple syrup producers this year. The Québec Maple Syrup Producers organization was quick to put measures in place to limit the spread of the virus and its impacts on producers. Changes affecting the delivery of maple syrup barrels, farm gate sales, equipment cleaning, and travel between regions were introduced to ensure operations could continue in compliance with the government's hygiene rules. Many producers had to innovate and come up with new ways of selling directly to customers, mainly by switching to online sales.

 

 

Although the sugaring off season is over, maple syrup is available throughout the year. Customers can visit erabledici.ca to find maple syrup producers offering online sales or delivery. The website also has a feature for searching by region or by product, such as maple taffy, butter, or sugar. It's the perfect opportunity to support our valiant producers and buy local.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.