2021 Sugaring Season Underway - Québec Maple Producers: Tapping into Success

LONGUEUIL, QC - As daytime temperatures consistently rise above zero but still drop to freezing at night, the sap begins to flow, and some 11,300 maple producers begin their annual harvest. The sugaring season has finally come to the south of the province, marking the arrival of spring in Québec, and continuing until the end of April in most regions. It's an appropriate time for Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) to speak of the economic health and wealth of the maple industry. 

 

 

From the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the east through the central Beauce region to the Outaouais in the west, 11,300 producers work in 12 major maple-producing regions. (CNW Group/Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec)

Maple syrup, a symbol of Québec culture, experienced a record year in 2020, with production reaching 175 million pounds, largely attributable to favourable weather conditions. Québec accounted for 73% of the world's maple syrup supply in 2020, with a 14% increase in sales and a 22% jump in exports over 2019.

 

Of the 131 million pounds of maple syrup Canada exported, 90% originated in Québec forests. Each year, maple production contributes approximately $800 M to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry is a grassroots economic engine, accounting for 10,500 jobs in the province's 12 producing regions.

 

 

QMSP traditionally marks the beginning of the season with an official tapping of a maple tree. This year, we have chosen to reinvent the ritual by publishing an economic report and releasing a new video, "Un érable à la fois " (One Maple at a Time), as a tribute to the women and men who work hard to produce our maple syrup.

 

We are hoping for another exceptional year in 2021, with special wishes directed at our sugar shack restaurants. The pandemic hammered this sector of the industry just as peak season arrived last March. They—our ambassadors to the public at large—were forced to close their doors and the situation remains the same today. One survival strategy now in place is macabanealamaison.com, from which consumers may order sugar shack meals and products. We hope this cooperative project will find success in helping them through the crisis.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.