Maple producers know that sap flow is very dependent on air temperature. But other environmental factors matter, too. To try to understand the intricate relationships between temperature, pressure, moisture, and sap flow rate, the Cornell Maple Program is conducting a scientific study at six sugarbushes—and you can see the measurements in real time throughout the season on a public dashboard.
The Wisconsin Extension Maple Program is partnering with Cornell to host one of the sap flow and environmental monitoring systems at Scott Walter’s farm in Viola, Wisconsin. Scott is a commercial maple producer running about 4,000 taps this year.
Check out the video below for a behind-the-scenes tour of the monitoring system at Driftless Gold and then visit the dashboard to see what conditions are like today.
In each sugarbush, sensors are set up at one tree to collect data on:
- Sap flow rate
- Rainfall rate
- Tree pressure
- Air pressure
- Air temperature
- Relative humidity
- Soil moisture (in two locations)
- Soil temperature (in two locations)
- Tree temperature (in two locations).
Stay tuned for details on our April Maple Hour, which will focus on the science of sap flow and dive deeper into this Cornell project.
And if you’re interested in growing your maple operation as a business, there’s still time to register for our March Maple Hour on Monday the 17th, which will be about marketing strategies on traditional and digital platforms so you can enhance your brand’s visibility, increase customer engagement, and build a sustainable business. Either way, we hope you’re having a great maple season!
