Maple syrup producers gather near Moose Creek to discuss storm recoveries, deforestation

Nov 29, 2023

MOOSE CREEK — Some SDG maple tappers will try making up for the loss of sap-producing trees north of Highway 417 damaged by the May 2022 derecho.

“Some of our neighbours are extending (their sap-gathering tubes),” said Anne Zoeller, operator of Zoeller Maple Products/Glengarry Maple Sugar Shack.

She said adding trees to the production isn’t readily possible, however, as an individual tree must be of a certain age. She personally won’t be adding trees, but rather working to overcome additional damage her woodlot suffered during an ice storm last winter.

While more sap production may be possible, Zoeller said she wasn’t sure if expansion plans were a direct correlation to the derecho, which was a topic at Saturday’s Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association – Eastern Local (OMSPA) annual meeting/seminar.

The need for government assistance to help syrup operators recover from the derecho was widely accessed, South Nation Conservation CAO Carl Bikerdyke told OMSPA members and expert presenters at Sand Road Maple Farm in North Stormont.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.