WASHINGTON — U.S. maple syrup production increased in 2019 as yield per tap more than offset fewer taps, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its June Crop Production report.
Maple syrup production was estimated at 4,240,000 gallons in 2019, up 1% from a revised 4,199,000 gallons in 2018 and the second highest on record after 4,385,000 gallons in 2017, the U.S.D.A. said. The number of taps was estimated at 13,340,000, down 3.6% from 2018, but the yield per tap increased 5% to 0.318 gallon.
Vermont is by far the nation’s largest maple syrup producer at 2,070,000 gallons, up 7% from 2018 and accounting for 49% of the U.S. total. New York was a distant second at 820,000 gallons in 2018, up 1.7%, with Maine third at 580,000 gallons, up 8%. Other states included in the survey were Wisconsin with production of 270,000 gallons, Michigan with 195,000 gallons, Pennsylvania with 157,000 gallons and New Hampshire with 148,000 gallons. Only seven states were included in this year’s report.
The average price of maple syrup in 2018 was $33.80 per gallon, up 70c, or 2.1%, from 2017 but well below a record $40.70 per gallon recorded in 2008. The average price for this year will be available in 2020.