How sweet it is! Some 170 delegates are expected July 20-23 for the Ontario Maple Producers Association summer tour hosted by Lanark and District maple producers.
Early in July, about 155 were registered. One of the organizers, Marion Dodds of Springdale Farms, said the original goal of 200 was a bit optimistic. However, Dodds added, the numbers are still good.
She expects producers from across Ontario, Northern New York State and Quebec to take part in the four-day event, which combines education and information with socializing. Dodds said the annual event is an ideal way for producers to painlessly keep up with developments in the industry. Most visitors will stay in area bed and breakfasts.
Asked if remnants of the January 1998, ice storm will be discussed as part of this year’s agenda, Dodds chuckled: "We’ll try not to". While producers have been saturated with ice storm talk, Dodds said there’s no escaping that it continues to haunt sugar bushes across Eastern Ontario.
"We just had some tree climbers in to do some more trimming of branches killed by the storm," she said. And, lo and behold, there it is on the tour agenda, on the second day at 10.30 am when there’s a discussion of "tree recoveries in relationship to age class and degree of damage to the crown as a result of the ice storm".
In general three sap seasons later, what with all the rain so far this spring and early summer, Lanark County sugar bushes are starting to look pretty good again, Dodds said.
As part of the tour, Dodds and her husband Don will host a demonstration of the Criterion laser range finder, which provides highly efficient tubing layout and detailed sugarbush, inventory information. The Dodds maintain 2,500 taps.
At Thompsontown Maple Products, participants will examine Ray and Ann Thompson’s conversion of a wood arch to oil; at George and Shirley Deugo Fulton’s Pancake House, there’s a seminar on marketing and diversification; at Fortune Farms, Ray and Ruth Fortune will lead an exploration of their silviculture plots and discuss sap sweetness results derived from long term management of the plots; Charles and Susan Temple will show off their rigid tubing sap collection system and new "health" spiles, new camp and collection station; and at Wheeler’s, Vernon and Judy will introduce their recently constructed maple museum.
Other attractions will include Paul and Mary Lou Pospisil’s 300-bucket syrup operation and organic garlic patch; the Naismith Basketball Museum and Mill of Kintail at Almonte; and lots of good food and live entertainment in Almonte and at other stops along the way.
From the Archives:
News, July 2000
