New Hampshire maple season looking better this year

Maple farmers in New Hampshire say this season is looking better than last year's so far.

Weather conditions have been favorable. Robyn Pearl, publicist for the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, tells the Eagle-Tribune it's been an average start to the season. Temperatures are cooperating.

"We are very optimistic about a nice, long maple season this year," said Brad Presby, owner of Presby's Maple Farm in Bethlehem and promotions director for the maple association.

"We've had good snow coverage for much of the winter, which results in a later start of maple flow and a longer duration of the yield. Last year, most maple producers were down by about 50 percent."

Pearl said the state produced about 90,000 gallons of syrup last year, fewer than in 2011, when the state's producers made 125,000 gallons.

Last year, mild weather contributed to lower-than-anticipated syrup production.

The association hosts an open sugarhouse weekend March 23-24.

Gov. Maggie Hassan tapped a tree at Tucker Mountain Maple in Andover on Monday, March 4 to signal the ceremonial start of New Hampshire's maple sugaring season.