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.

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Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how they gather feedback from employees to address challenges and maintain herd health across all phases of production. Dr. Carlos Roudergue of Country View Family Farms discusses the growing complexity of swine production, especially as technology increases and employee interaction decreases. He also shares how their workforce is shifting toward more specialized roles to support herd health and efficiency.