HARRISBURG (TNS) — Pennsylvania fell to No. 7 nationally in maple syrup production, as the amount of the sticky, sweet stuff flowing through taps in the Keystone State in 2022 dropped to 164,000 gallons.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the USDA, Pennsylvania tappers produced 168,000 gallons in 2021 and 178,000 gallons in 2020.

In a record-breaking year of more than 5 million gallons nationally, Vermont was the top producer in 2022 at a record 2,550,000 gallons, followed by New York at 845,000 gallons, Maine at 672,000 gallons, Wisconsin at 440,000 gallons, Michigan at 190,000 gallons and New Hampshire at 167,000 gallons.

New Hampshire had previously trailed Pennsylvania, but this year tappers in the Granite State added about 40,000 gallons to their production this year.

The previous U.S. production record of 4.1 million gallons was set in 2020.

Adding to the national trend, Pennsylvania maple farmers increased their number of taps in trees from 745,000 last year to 750,000 in 2022.

Vermont increased taps from 5.7 million in 2021 to 6,650,000 in 2022; Maine, 1,960,000 to 1,970,00; Wisconsin, 900,000 to 920,00; Michigan, 550,000 to 570,000; and New Hampshire, 530,000 to 540,000.

New York maintained its number of taps at about 2.9 million, as the total number of taps nationally jumped from 14,085,000 in 2021 to 14,300,000 this year.

The price received by maple farmers is not available for 2022, but last year it ranged from an average $64.90 per gallon in New Hampshire to $32 per gallon in Vermont. The average in Pennsylvania was $36.20 per gallon.

Although no organization compiles the numbers, another aspect of maple syrup in Pennsylvania — tours of maple sugarbushes (farms) and maple festivals — also showed continuing renewal this year after two years of pandemic-related interruption.

According to the Cornell University maple research and education website, about 43 gallons of sap from sugar maple trees can be boiled down to make a gallon of maple syrup.

“With warm temperatures above freezing in spring, pressure develops in the tree and causes the sap to flow out these openings or taps. Then, with colder temperatures below freezing, suction within the tree pulls in more water to make more sap. When the fluctuations in temperature lessen, the sap stops flowing.”

The period of sap flow usually falls from mid-February through March.

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