BURLINGTON, Vt. — The 2021 Vermont Maple Conference, Dec. 8-11, will offer options for both online and in-person learning with 15 informative sessions led by maple industry experts and maple producers.
University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA) will host the conference, which is co-sponsored by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Daily sessions will be of interest not only to sugar makers but also to foresters who work with maple producers and forest landowners looking to lease to a producer.
The conference kicks off on Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. with the first of nine online sessions over a three- day period. Attendees also can register for a day of in-person sessions at Vermont Technical College (VTC) in Randolph Center on Dec. 11.
To register, go to www.vermontmaple.org/maple-conferences. The registration fee is $10 for online sessions only, $25 to attend the Dec. 11 in-person sessions and $35 to participate in both online and in-person sessions. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Cory Ayotte at (802) 786-9437 by Nov. 30.
This is the first time since January 2020 that the Vermont Maple Conference has offered an in-person option. The live event will include a panel of industry experts moderated by UVM Extension Maple Specialist Mark Isselhardt, hydrometer testing, a tour of the State of Vermont Metrology Lab, a research update with Research Associate Professor Dr. Abby van den Berg with the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, a tradeshow and lunch.
Six interactive, hour-long sessions also will be offered on Dec. 11 after lunch that will focus on areas such as maple business management, maple industry regulations, sugarbush health, marketing and media and maple production and innovation.
All sessions (online and in-person) will be recorded for future viewing. Topics include:
Dec. 8: sap collection for small-scale maple production, food safety and maple quality in the retail marketplace
Dec. 9: agritourism and welcoming visitors into the sugarhouse and sugarbush, the basics of sugarhouse certification and updates on sweet tree research with the Cornell Maple Program
Dec. 10: quality syrup production for small-scale maple operations, a deeper dive into sugarhouse certification and a question and answer session with Dr. Tim Perkins, UVM Proctor Maple Research Center
Dec. 11: an industry panel, a plenary session with Abby van den Berg, hydrometer testing and six sessions on a variety of related topics
For more information, contact Cory Ayotte at cory@vermontmaple.org or (802) 786-9437 or Allison Hope at allison@vermontmaple.org or (802) 777-2667.
–UVM Extension