Demand for maple syrup is high and growing. This interest and demand led to the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team receiving an increasing number of requests for maple syrup information and support from county extension agents, the Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service, maple syrup producers, and the Kentucky Maple Syrup Associa­tion. This growing interest, increase in educational requests, and abundant maple resources in Kentucky prompted the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (including Extension team members: Jacob Muller and Billy Thomas) to engage with key partners and seek funding to support the development of the Kentucky Maple Syrup Project.

The Project has numerous ongoing activities including a robust website (https://ky-maplesyrup.ca.uky.edu) that contains a growing library of maple syrup-related information, including videos, recorded programs, and a periodic E-Newsletter. In addition to maple syrup workshops, a major educational offering is the Kentucky Maple School, which takes place in November and features maple syrup experts as well as maple syrup supply vendors. Each February, the project helps to organize and promote Kentucky Maple Day in February. The project is also working with new and current maple syrup producers on a community science project to help researchers better understand the maple resources in Kentucky. The data collected from this project, as well as field research on maple sap production in Kentucky, are filling an important knowledge gap, as nearly all the maple syrup research is conducted in the northern United States and Canada. To engage Kentucky youth, a Kentucky 4-H Maple Syrup Project youth curriculum has also been developed and is currently being piloted.

The maple syrup season happens during the middle of winter, one of the slowest periods from an agriculture perspective, making it an attractive option for farmers and woodland owners who may have a little more time and flexibility on their hands in the winter. The Kentucky Maple Syrup Project plays a critical role in connecting and supporting the growing maple syrup industry in Kentucky and promotes the management of Kentucky’s forests.

The Kentucky Maple Syrup Project is supported by the following grants as well as contributions from the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, and county extension agents in Kentucky.

·       Enhancing the Awareness, Knowledge, and Understanding of Sustainable Maple Syrup Production Practices Among Current and Potential Maple Syrup Producers. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Grant # AM200100XXXXG007. $499,400.

·       Economic Analysis of Maple Syrup Production Potential in Kentucky. USDA Kentucky NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. $75,000.

·       Informing Management Practice Through Understanding the Effects of Species and Tree Characteristics on Maple Sap Volume and Sugar Content. USDA Kentucky NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. $75,000.