SUGAR MAPLE AND IT'S USE FOR SAP PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN? LOWER PENINSULA Thesis for flu Degree of pk. D. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Raiph D. Nyland 1966 THE‘B‘F 0-169 This is to certify that the thesis entitled Sugar maple and its use for sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula presented by Ralph D. Nyland has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Ph. D. degree in Forestry U. W Major professor Date November 18, 1966 .. ‘LIBRARY Michigan Stan: University ABSTRACT SUGAR MAPLE AND ITS USE FOR SAP PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN'S LOWER PENINSULA by Ralph D. Nyland Four aspects of present and potential sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula were investigated: (1) the sugar maple resource, (2) characteristics of the maple syrup industry, (3) plans for future tapping, and (4) the potential for additional tapping. Data from the 1949 Michigan Forest Survey were used to appraise the northern hardwood forests, and a sample of active producers provided information about the maple syrup industry. The study considers the location, structure, and extent of sugar maple resources within the Lower Peninsula. In addition, the economics of tapping these forests were studied by cost analysis, and the minimum taphole stocking needed for commercial tapping determined. These show that stocking is relatively unimportant if tapping is integrated with sap processing operations. However, because of trans- portation charges incurred when sap is sold to a central evaporator plant, taphole stocking must exceed certain well- defined limits before stands can be tapped for that purpose. Ralph D. Nyland Data show that Lower Peninsula forests contain a vast resource of sugar maple suited for commerical tapping. Of the 22 million tapholes available in the Peninsula in 1950, 21 million were suited for use by integrated sap—syrup enterprises, 13 million for tapping with roadside sap sale, and 10 million for use if sap is delivered to a central evap- orator plant. Studies of producer-owned lands show that the resource will grow about 1 taphole per acre per year in the southern counties and 3 tapholes per acre per year in the northern region. Small antiquated and inefficient operations char- acterize the present maple syrup industry. Virtually all operators collect sap by costly hand-gathering methods, and 40 percent use less than 500 tapholes. Although producers use only 75 percent of the tapholes available on their lands, 44 percent tap neighboring properties. In 1965, tapholes in— stalled on non-producer owned lands accounted for 30 percent of the total used. Sap from 57 percent of the total tap- holes used was processed in saphouses unfit for sanitary sap processing. In recent years, many maple syrup businesses termi— nated production. Yet, tapping has increased since 1960 to stop the previous declining trend. This resulted from in— creased tapping in the northern half of the Peninsula, off— setting continued declines in the southern counties. It is Ralph D. Nyland forecast that by 1975, 35 percent of present operations will terminate production. Tapping will decrease six percent in the southern region, but be offset by a 10 percent increase in the north. EXpected tapping for 1975 will be 3 percent above current levels, with 37 percent of the total on non— producer owned lands. In 1975, the industry plans to use only 381,000 of the more than 21 million tapholes available. Future produc- tion will not be limited by lack of tappable resources. Rather, the poor condition of most saphouses and the ineffi— cient production methods now employed appear the major deter— rents. Strict enforcement of Michigan health laws could reduce planned tapping by 42 percent. Also, rising costs may force closure of many inefficient enterprises. To main— tain itself, the industry must revolutionize production methods. While the Lower Peninsula contains ample forest resources to support a larger industry than is planned for 1975, scarcity of tappable stands and pressures of urbanism make certain regions unattractive as locations for new centralized plants. However, the 12 northwestern counties appear to offer good opportunities for introducing about 12 large central evaporator plants that require sap delivery. SUGAR MAPLE AND ITS USE FOR SAP PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN'S LOWER PENINSULA BY Ralph DfWNyland A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Forestry 1966 AC KNOWLED GMEN TS Financial support for this project was granted by the Eastern Utilization Research and Development Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service, United States Depart— ment of Agriculture, and by the Northeastern Forest Experi- ment Station, United States Forest Service. In addition, the North Central Forest Experiment Station and the Michigan Conservation Department provided basic resource inventory data. I sincerely appreciate the cooperation and assistance extended by these agencies. I also gratefully acknowledge the advice and sugges- tions offered by Mr. Clarence D. Chase and Mr. Robert N. Stone of the U.S. Forest Service, Mr. Harold W. Kollmeyer of the Michigan Conservation Department, and Professors Putnam W. Robbins and Lester E. Bell of the Department of Forestry, Michigan State University. I am especially indebted to Dr. Victor J. Rudolph, my major professor, and to members of the guidance committee; namely Dr. Lee M. James, Dr. Gerhardt Schneider, and Dr. Milton H. Steinmueller. The author appreciates help given by members of Michigan's maple syrup industry, and their willingness to cooperate with the research effort. Above all, I am grate— ful for the patience and encouragement of my wife, Flora. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evolution of Maple Syrup Production . . . History and Importance in Michigan . Modernization of Production Techniques Sugar Maple in Michigan's Lower Peninsula Forest Types Containing Sugar Maple . Distribution and Stocking of Northern Hardwoods in the Lower Peninsula . . Forest Ownership in the Lower Peninsula . ME mODS OF S TIJDY O O O O O O O O C O O O O O 0 Collection of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . Analysis of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESULTS The Northern Hardwood Forests of the Lower Peninsula 0 O O O O O O I O O O O O O 0 Location and Area by Size Class . . . Structure of Northern Hardwood Stands. Taphole Stocking Required for Commercial Tapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assumed Operating Conditions and Costs Tapping by Integrated Sap-Syrup Enterprises Sap Production for Sale to a Central Evaporator Plant . . . . . . . . . . The Prospects for Profitable Tapping Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Page 10 10 12 l5 l9 19 26 32 32 36 42 42 46 5O 58 Page The Tappable Resource in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and Its Suitability for Commercial Tapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Total Tapholes Available . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Resource Suited for Commercial Tapping . . . . 60 The Maple Syrup Industry in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Characteristics of Operations . . . . . . . . 66 The Tappable Resource on Producer—Owned Lands and Its Use for Sap Production . . . . 78 The PrOSpects and Potential for Tapping in Michigan's Lower Peninsula by 1975 . . . . . . . 83 PrOSpects for Future Production . . . . . . . 83 Capacity of Producer-Owned Resources to Support Future Operations . . . . . . . . 90 Opportunities for Additional Tapping in the Sugar Maple Resource of Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 The Northern Hardwood Forest Resource . . . . . . 112 The Maple Syrup Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Outlook for the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Recommendations for Future Research . . . . . . . 119 LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 iv LIST OF TABLES Page Maple syrup production and its value in Michigan, 1955—1966 . . Tapping in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1949-1964 . . . . . 6 Lower Peninsula forest cover types con- taining sugar maple as a chief component . . . 7 . . 11 Distribution of northern hardwood forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula by area and stand size class, 1947-1949 Private forest ownerships in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . 13 Sample of maple sap and syrup producers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 Proportion and area of northern hardwoods in stands of differing average diameters within Michigan's Lower Peninsula (exclusive of seedling—sapling size), 1947-1949 . . . . 25 . . . . 35 Stand characteristics of northern hardwood forests in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number of tapholes in different stands of sugar maple within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 10. Costs, returns, and surpluses from sap production when the product is processed at the property where collected, 1965 . . . . 48 11. Costs per gallon of maple sap collected from differently stocked stands and processed at the property where collected, 1965 . . 49 Table 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Costs, returns, and surpluses from sap production when the product is sold for transport away from the property where collected, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . Minimum number of tapholes per acre required for break-even operation when sap is sold for tranSport away from the property where collected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowable transportation charge per gallon for sap sold for transport away from the property where collected, 1965 . . . . . . Maximum permissible transportation charges for sap collected from average northern hardwood stands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Costs, returns, and surpluses from sap production when the product is trans— ported five miles to the evaporator plant, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minimum number of tapholes per acre required for break-even Operation when sap is delivered five miles to the evaporator plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The total tappable resource within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947—1949 . . . . . . . . Northern hardwood forest area suited for commercial sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947—1949 . . . . . . . . Total tapholes suited for commercial sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changes in tapping within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1949-1964 . . . . . . . . . . . Change in size of tapping Operations during the period 1963-1965 by producers sampled in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . vi Page 51 52 54 55 56 57 61 63 65 67 69 Table 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. Page Size of sapping operations sampled within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . 70 Sap production on other than producer-owned forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 The nature of producer-owned sugar maple resources in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 O O I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 79 Use of the available sugar maple resource on producer-owned lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 80 Tapping planned by the maple syrup industry in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965-1975 . . 84 Anticipated resource use for sap production in 1975 by enterprises active in Michigan's Lower Peninsula in 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Total tapping eXpected in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Proportion of Lower Peninsula maple sap- houses that fail to meet minimum stan- dards of sanitation, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . 91 Contribution to future available tapholes from growth by different size trees on producer-owned forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965-1975 . . . . . . . . . 95 Ten-year increase in commercial resources available on producer-owned lands within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965-1975 . . . . 97 Capacity of producer-owned resources to support future tapping operations in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1975 . . . . . . 98 Commercial sap production area of northern hardwoods located in the urban fringe of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 . . . . 102 vii Table Page 35. Potentially available tapholes suited for commercial sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 . . . . 103 36. Proportion of northern hardwood forests potentially available for owner- Operated sap production enterprises on farm-owned lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 37. Tapholes available in the 12 northwestern Lower Peninsula counties best suited to supply a central evaporator industry relying upon delivered sap . . . . . . 111 viii LIST OF FIGURES Number of trees tapped in Michigan and the United States, 1918-1959 . . . . . . . Location of maple sap and syrup operations sampled in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selected inventory zones in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geographic location of the northern hardwood type group in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . Structural form of average northern hardwood stands and their sugar maple component in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 . . . Assumed tree locations and tube gathering systems for 20 and 81 sugar maple trees per acre 0 O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O Ten—year diameter growth for sugar maple in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . Counties and regions of Michigan's Lower Peninsula suited for commercial sap production serving a central evaporator plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Region of the Lower Peninsula best suited for sites of new central evaporator plants that require sap delivery . . . . . ix Page 24 28 34 38 45 94 101 109 Appendix 1. 10. 11. 12. LIST OF APPENDICES Number of Forest Survey plots in northern hardwoods within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Michigan Forest Survey, 1947-1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forest Survey plot record form . . . . . . . Producer sample questionnaire . . . . . . . Criteria used to evaluate the sanitation in maple syrup processing plants . . . . . Producer-owned forest land inventory form 0 O O O O O C O O O O O O O O O O O 0 Comparison of sampled maple syrup pro- ducers included in the Extension Service producer listing with sampled producers not included in the listing, 1965. . . . . Sap flow capacities for various size tubing used on level topography . . . . . . . . . Cost of transporting maple sap across producing lands to the saphouse or roadside collection point . . . . . . . . Cost of equipment and material required in commercial sapping operations, 1965 . . Computation of the annual cost for invest- ment in sapping equipment . . . . . . . . The average size of farm woodlands and their tappable resource in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annual cost of power tapping equipment . . . Page 130 131 132 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 Appendix Page 13. Cost of storage tanks used with plastic tube gathering systems, 1965 . . . . . . . . 143 14. Annual cost of tube cleaning equipment, 1965 . 144 15. Estimated annual operating cost per tap— hole for sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . 145 16. Average sap sweetness reported for Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . 146 17. Proposed prices for maple sap delivered to an evaporator plant . . . . . . . . . . . 147 18. An example of the cost analysis used to determine stocking required for break- even tapping when the sap is processed at the property where collected, for 60 trees per acre in a stand 11—15 inches average d.b.h. in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 19. Cost of delivering maple sap a distance of five miles to the evaporator plant . . . . . 149 20. Northern hardwood forest land and tappable area by county for Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947—1949 . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 21. Sap production on other than producerwowned forest lands by producers sampled in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 . . . . . . 152 22. The diameter growth of sugar maple in Michigan's Lower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . 153 xi IN TRODUC TI ON During the past 45 years maple syrup production declined as an economic activity in Michigan's Lower Penin- sula. However, the recent development of labor saving devices for use in maple sap and syrup production and the promise of profits from operating automated central evap— orator plants raise some hOpe that syrup manufacture can be revitalized within the state. This possibility is enhanced by the emergence into tappable size of vast second—growth forests within the northern counties. Although much basic information was available rela- tZ'I_\re to the potential for maple sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, it had not been assembled or appraised. Ne ither had the northern hardwood forest been studied rela- tive to use by an industry composed of central evaporator plants, or to determine if these forests could adequately Support commercial tapping enterprises. In 1964, the Department of Forestry, Michigan State U’Iliversity, initiated this study of the northern hardwood reSource and the maple syrup industry within the Lower Pel'linsula. The project was organized around four major o - . b 3 ectives: 3. 4w to appraise the sugar maple resource and its condi- tion, nature, location, growth and suitability for tapping; to determine characteristics of the maple syrup industry; to learn what the industry plans for the future; to study the potential for expanding production in the Lower Peninsula, and to identify geographic regions best suited to accommodate a new industry of central evaporator plants. REVIEW OF LI TERATURE Evolution of Maple Syrup Production History and Importance _i_r_1 Michigan Maple syrup production has declined in Michigan and throughout the United States since the turn of’ the century (Figure l) (Stat. Rept. Ser., 1962). In 1960, tapping was only about one—third that recorded for 1918. Today, maple syrup manufacture contributes little to the economy of the s tats (Table 1). Despite a 24 percent increase in tapping between 1959 and 1964 (Table 2), in 1965, the value of Michigan's maple production amounted to just 0.05 percent of the state's total agricultural cash receipts (Mich. Dept. Agr., 1966). Writers attribute the general decline of syrup manufacture since 1918 to three major factors. First, begin- r1ing in the early 1900's timber prices rose and much of the tappable resource was cut. Then, II, during and after World War labor became increasingly scarce and costly. Lastly, p:E‘Oc'iuction, equipment, and material costs climbed at a gTreater rate than syrup's sale price, reducing the profit margin (Bell, 1955; Foulds and Reed, 1962; Laing _e_t§_l_.. Figure 1. Number of trees tapped in Michigan and the United States, 1918—1959 (Stat. Rept. Ser., 1962). "—n— o - Cnnn a All-“‘32.:- TAn——— - A A A A A A A A A A A TREES TAPPED IN U. S.A. I04. 105. TREES TAPPED 1.40 IN MICHIGAN IOII YEARS YEARS Czfiaible 1. Maple syrup production and its value in Michigan, 1955-1966a Syrup Value of Year produced maple products Thousand Thousand gallons dollars 1955 78 413 1956 79 427 1957 81 437 1958 99 538 1959 66 363 1960 65 367 1961 82 459 1962 73 405 1963 52 286 1964 96 556 1965 60 366 1966b 78 475c aSource: Mich. Dept. Agr., 1965, 1966. bSource: Stat. Rept. Ser., 1966. CEstimated by evaluating the total production for 1966 at $6.10 per gallon, the value of syrup for 1965 1:‘eipcorted in Michigan Agriculture Statistics (Mich. Dept. 1\§;1:.,.1966). Table 2. Tapping in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1949—1964a Tireaar Number of producing farms Tapholes used 11.5349 2,968 ...b :L.EBS4 1,590 ...b .J_5359 976 300,531 3.5364 810 372,721 aSource: U.S. Bur. Census, 1954, 1961, 1966. bResource used in 1949 and 1954 was recorded as the ECLIJJrfloer of trees tapped. The actual number of tapholes in— VOlved is not available. 1960; Robbins, 1950; Stat. Rept. Ser., 1962; Willits, 1965; Wolfe, 1966). In addition, Wolfe (1966) alleges that changes in rural customs and practices also contributed to the de- cl ine. Even though maple syrup production may be relatively unimportant to the economy of large regions, several analysts contend that it contributes significantly to income of many individual families and is vital to dozens of small communi— tie S (Bell, 1955; England and Tompkins, 1956; McIntyre, 1932; Moore e_t_ §_1., 1951; Underwood and Willits, 1963; Willits, 1965). In this respect, in 1949 nearly 3,000 farms in 68 of the Lower Peninsula counties realized some income from maple Sap processing. But from 1949 to 1964, the number dropped to 810 farms in 63 counties (Table 2). £10 de rnization _qf Production Echniques Production of maple sap and syrup by traditional methods requires much labor. However, research in recent years has provided the means to improve efficiency. For e3"=a.tnple, from this research has come the use of power drills, plastic tubing, vacuum pumps, and paraformaldehyde pellets for use in sap production, and the advent of automated equip- ment and better techniques for handling and processing sap in the evaporator plant. Besides helping the maple syrup i11<3~‘I.1stry to realize more consistent yields of high quality products, this new technology enables producers to decrease inputs of labor and, therefore, reduce operating costs (Snow, 1964; Underwood and Willits, 1963; Willits, 1962, 1965; Wolfe, 1966). As a result, some writers feel that the new technology offers the potential to help transform sap processing from a household activity to a commercial enter- prise capable of competing with other businesses for capital, labor, and land (Moore _£_al,, 1951; Willits and Sipple, 1961). With modern equipment and techniques, producers can assemble large evaporating plants that can be operated with low inputs of labor. Based on their cost studies, Pasto and Taylor (1962) hypothesize that such large-volume production will minimize operating costs and prove economically attrac- tive. But because of the large investment in equipment, the plants must operate at maximum capacity (Pasto and Taylor, 1962). To devote full time to processing, some producers purchase sap from independent sapping enterprises rather than gfiather it themselves. Since 1955, several centralized plants .hevve been established and operate satisfactorily with these sap purchasing arrangements (Anonymous, 1962; Mears, 1962; I?631:erson, 1962; Weber, 1960; Willits, 1965). While it is ETEBIIerally accepted that profits can be realized from selling 5‘5119' to the central evaporator plants, this opinion has [Iii-tillerto not been supported by cost analysis. 10 Sugar Maple in_Michigan's Lower Peninsula Forest Types Containing Sugar Maple Two major forest regions converge within Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In the north half, the Northern Forest Region occupies the area overlaid with podzol soils. Within these forests, sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)l is a pre- dominant member of two cover types of the northern hardwood— hemlock type group; namely the sugar maple-beech-yellow birch cover type and the sugar maple cover type. In the southern portion of the Peninsula where grey—brown podzolic soils predominate, the forest composition changes to that of the Central Forest Region. There sugar maple is plentiful only in the beech-sugar maple cover type2 (Soc. Am. For., 1954). The 1947-1949 Michigan Forest Survey combined the three distinct cover types mentioned above into one broad type group called "northern hardwood” (Table 3). This north- errlhardwood type3 is stocked with 50 percent or more sugar Huxple, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Brit.), American 1Scientific and common names follow Little (1953). 2Forest classifications by Braun (1950), Hansen (1962), and DenUyl (1962) apply different terminology to the regions, but generally divide the Lower Peninsula in the ”iéiljlaer described above. 3Future references to northern hardwoods in any C:<:"rlt:ext refer to this Forest Survey classification. 11 Table 3. Lower Peninsula forest cover types containing sugar maple as a chief componenta Cover type Type group classification Society of American Foresters Michigan Forest Survey Sugar maple—beech yellow birch Sugar maple Beech-sugar maple Northern hardwood- hemlock Northern hardwood- hemlock Beech-sugar maple Northern hardwood Northern hardwood Northern hardwood a Source: Soc. Am. For., 1954; Chase and Horn, 1950. 12 beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), and American basswood (Tilia americana L.), occurring singly or in combination (Chase and Horn, 1950; Findell _E.§1., 1960). Normally sugar maple comprises more than 25 percent of the trees in a stand (Eyre and Zillgitt, 1953). Distribution and Stocking_g£ Northern Hardwoods $2 the Lower Peninsula The 10,290,000 acres of forest land (98 percent com- mercial) contained within the Lower Peninsula (Findell 33 a1., 1960) are not uniformly distributed. Rather, in 1950 the bulk was situated in the northern 33 counties. There, northern hardwoods occupied approximately 1,049,700 acres. Pole size stands predominated, and sawtimber accounted for only 17 percent of the northern hardwood area. By contrast, in 1950 the southern portion of the Peninsula contained only 373,200 acres of northern hardwood forest. But sawtimber was about 1.5 times more plentiful there than in the northern «Counties, and poletimber accounted for only 13 percent of the ruorthern hardwoods (Chase, 1953; Chase and Horn, 1950, 1955, l£956; Essex _£.§1., 1955; Quinney g: 21., 1957a, 1957b; Rapp gt _a_1_., 1957). Table 4 summarizes the acreage of northern hardwoods jLII the Lower Peninsula. It should be noted, however, that ‘tlfleise data are more than 15 years old. Findell g5.§1. (1960), point out that between 1935 and 1955, significant shifts 13 Table 4. Distribution of northern hardwood forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula by area and stand size class, 1947-1949a Region Stand Northern half of Southern half of size class Lower Peninsula Lower Peninsula Acres Acres Large sawtimber 54,200 177,600 Small sawtimber 128,600 l05,300 Poletimber 455,500 50,200 Seedling-sapling 411,400 40,100 Total area 1,049,700 373,200 aSource: Chase, 1953; Chase and Horn, 1950, 1955, 1956;,Essex et 21,, 1955; Quinney 3; al., 1957a, 1957b; Rapp 23 31., 1957. bSize classes are defined as follows (Chase and Horn, .1950): Sawtimber--at least 1,500 bd.ft. per acre (Int.) in trees 11 inches d.b.h. or larger. Large sawtimber--more than half the net volume in trees 15 inches and larger d.b.h. Poletimber--10 percent or more stocked with trees 5.0 to 10.9 inches d.b.h., and at least 3 cords per acre. Seedling—sapling--10 percent or more stocked with commercial species, at least half of which are seedling—sapling size. 14 occurred in the relative proportions of area in different size classes. In that period, the proportion of hardwood poletimber increased 16 percent while hardwood sawtimber decreased 10 percent. Some shifts likely continued past 1950, but the amount of change in the area by size class occurring since that time is not known. The structure of the northern hardwood forests with— in Michigan's Lower Peninsula has not previously been described. However, generalized estimates of stocking by the 1947-1949 Forest Survey show that the bulk of commer- cial forests were poorly stocked. To illustrate, in the northern 33 counties only 10 to 20 percent qualified as well stocked, and 30 to 40 percent medium or well stocked.4 Like- wise, within the lower portion of the Peninsula, only 41 to 43 percent of forest lands were found adequately stocked and just a small portion well stocked (Chase, 1953; Chase and Horn, 1950, 1955, 1956; Essex §E_§1,, 1955; Quinney gt 31., 1957a, 1957b; Rapp egg“ 1957). 4Well stocked stands effectively use 70 percent or .nusre of the available growing space, medium stocked stands 11538 40 to 69 percent, and poorly stocked areas only 10 to 39 percent (Chase and Horn, 1950) . 15 Forest Ownership in the Lower Peninsula Lower Peninsula forest lands are primarily in highly fragmented private ownerships. Within the northern 33 coun- ties, these private individuals and corporations control 65 percent of the forest resource, and jointly hold 76 percent of the northern hardwoods. Farmer groups alone own 40 per— cent of the total northern hardwood resource (Table 5) (Chase and Horn, 1955, 1956; Findell_gt.al., 1960; Quinney et 1., 1957a, 1957b; Rapp _E._1., 1957; Yoho, 1956; Yoho et 1., 1957). Forest lands in the southern 35 counties are, by contrast, 91 percent privately owned. But these 2,428,000 acres are segmented into 127,000 different ownerships with two—thirds of them less than 25 acres each. Although farm- ers own the largest portion of commercial forest, their ownership of northern hardwoods is not known (Table 5) (Findell _E.§1., 1960; Schallau, 1961, 1962). The bulk of Lower Peninsula private forest land is lield by growing numbers of non-resident owners, with just 238 percent of the total forest area occupied regularly. For tihe northern region, only 28 percent of the owners, who con- tllfiol 28 percent of the forest area, live on the land. By <=H a Q Q Q m m 0 mac Q Q Q o o. .o D ma 0H Hm w w M New Gownmm Umuflumm 0Q ma ma m Ha mm no mezzo ommz Q.. Q.. Q.. n ma Q bao N muonm doaummuomm om 6Q mm Ha me m mme Hencemmmuoud IcmEmmmchsm HQ ea ma m m NQ me HoEHmm mEQDIQHmm em mm mm mm QN mm NQH Hmfiumm unmonmm unmoumm mmuom unmonom unmouom ummoumm mmuom mwum mumszo mNHm mo003©HMQ mmum mumczo mufim msoum mezzo phenom ochoooz chQQHoz ummuom ocmaoooz mmwuzsoo mm GHmQusom mmflussoo mm chQuHoz coflmmm M Magmcflcmm HmSOQ m.ammflQUH2 as mmHQmHmG3o umouow mum>HH . m H 17 Peninsula, the resident owners are primarily farmers and part-time farmers (Schallau, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965; Yoho, 1956; Yoho _£_§1,, 1957). Not all landowners in the Lower Peninsula maintain equal interest in forest production. Objectives like recrea- tion, investment and speculation, and agriculture often pre- clude use of land for production of forest products. For example, Yoho (1956) and Yoho _E__l. (1957) analyzed owner objectives for the northern half of the Peninsula and found that only 41 percent of the landowners, who controlled 42 percent of the forest land, held forest production as a prime objective. Eighty-nine percent of lands held by farm- ers and part-time farmers were in this category. But recrea- tion groups, real estate firms, non—forest industry, and undivided estates, holding 20 percent of the northern hard- woods, had no interest or only slight interest in forest production. In the southern counties, some 52 percent of all Cfivners surveyed by Schallau (1961) reported forest produc- tjaon as a primary objective. These persons owned 50 percent (DI? the southern commercial forest area. Farmers and part— tLiJne farmers were 74 percent and 35 percent, respectively, CZCDIacerned with forest production. In 1960, 18 counties in the lower portion of the E’ealjtinsula supported a population of 100 or more persons per S(ll—lame mile, and two had 99 per square mile (Mich. State 18 Univ., 1962). Schallau (1962) determined that in these urban areas only 29 percent of the owners held forest land .for production purposes. Harvesting operations were less lirequent there than elsewhere and were carried out in a poor Insanner. Furthermore, he estimated that one percent of these leflban.fringe lands shift annually to non—forest uses. as»: it‘s-I "v F'Af bfigh . u.- "n-l Ah-yr‘ u-‘\ . 5“« new ('1‘ I ~'- ~ 5... I ’r METHODS OF STUDY The research was organized into three parts: (1) cxarnpilation and analysis of Forest Survey data, (2) evalua— t:ic1n.of the maple syrup industry and of sap production in the Lower Peninsula, and (3) collation of resource and sap Eazrc><3uction information to predict future trends and poten- t:jLEa:L. The first two phases actually constituted separate sst:11é3ies which, although related in some respects, were con- 6111c21:ed somewhat independently of each other. These, however, vveel:ea brought together in the final stages of research to (ereaeate a picture of probable and potential tapping by 1975. Collection 9§_Data The 1947—1949 Michigan Forest Survey used a sampling E>lrcmcedure which employed both aerial photo-interpretation 511313 field plots. Individual Forest Survey reports give the C3631:ails of this sampling and estimates of the accuracy for EEEiCEh Survey block. In general, however, systematically JLC><2ated points on aerial photographs were examined and C:J—Elssified for forest type, stand size class, and stand (asildisity. Then a sample of the photo points was selected and CP1€3<2ked in the field. At the selected ground check-points, 19 20 Forest Survey crews established a one—fifth acre plot. Within the plot they measured and classified all trees six inches d.b.h. and larger. Smaller stems and the lO-year radial increment for all size trees were subsampled on a one-fiftieth acre within the larger plot. The North Central Forest Experiment Station made available Forest Survey plot records for the 190 northern hardwood plots taken in the northern 33 counties and the 321 plots located in the 35 southern counties (Appendix 1). From these records I copied the following information onto tally sheets like that shown in Appendix 2: (l) the county, (2) the number of trees in each two-inch diameter class, (3) tine stand size class, (4) the growth measurements for indi— vcidual trees, and (5) other descriptive material. In addi— t:ixon, I traced the location of northern hardwood forests vvixthin the Lower Peninsula from published and unpublished type maps prepared from the Forest Survey. These plot rec— carwis and type maps provided the information needed to study tile: northern hardwood forests within the Lower Peninsula. Data relative to the maple syrup industry were col— leuzized by sampling 48 active producers within the Lower Peninsula. To form the sample, I used a listing of 349 naunees; furnished by the Extension Forester, Michigan Coopera- ti‘763 Iixtension Service. These names included persons known by' C3':1><3perative Extension Service personnel, producers who 21 had attended Cooperative Extension Service training meetings, and names the Extension Forester received through corre— spondence. Each person listed in the COOperative Extension Service's maple syrup producer directory was catalogued by county and assigned a number. From the list, 12 names were selected at random from the 169 operations included for the 35 southern counties and 12 from the 180 listed for the northern 33 counties. Selections were restricted to one producer per county. During the summer of 1965 each selected producer was visited and screened according to two criteria: (1) Did he produce maple sap or syrup in 1965? and (2) Did he sell any of his product? If the producer answered negatively to either question he was dropped from the sample, and a new name was selected. But if the operation qualified for sampling, I interviewed the producer and asked a series of questions designed to identify characteristics of his Opera- tion and his plans for the future (Appendix 3). Then I inventoried the producer's forest land to determine the size, nature, and amount of tappable resource owned, and to learn how it is used for sap production. In addition, I checked the producer's saphouse to evaluate his compliance with .requirements of the Michigan health laws (Appendix 4). 22 Although the producer directory from which the 24 names were selected comprises the most complete listing of sap and syrup operations in Michigan, it does not include all producers in the Lower Peninsula, and may not truly represent the entire commercial industry. Therefore, I eXpanded the sample to include operations selected without regard to their being on the above-mentioned listing. These additional enterprises were selected by locating a second producer living near each of the 24 persons chosen from the CooPerative Extension Service's listing. The new persons were screened to insure that they had produced and sold some sap or syrup during 1965. Then they were interviewed and their forest land inventoried. Adding these 24 producers to the 24 initially selected provided the sample shown in Fig- ure 2 and Table 6. Variable—radius point samples were used to inventory the forest lands owned by the 48 selected producers. These points were placed at a spacing of 2- by 2-chains for prop- erties 5 acres or less, at 4- by 4—chains for areas 5 to 25 acres in size, and spread over wider intervals for larger properties. Although the number of sample points varied with the woodland size, configuration, and homogeneity, at least six points were included for each ownership. To identify sample trees, I used a calibrated BFA-lO :factor prism in the manner recommended by Beers and Miller (11964), and by Hovind and Rieck (1961). The selected sugar 23 Figure 2. Location of maple sap and syrup operations sampled in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965. 24 25 .ooma .mSmGwU .Hfim .m.D "moudomm m.¢Q oma.mm Hmh.mwm h.m be oam mazmaflcmm muaucm o.m mum.ma Qmm.©@Q m.¢ mm one mam: sHmQusom m.mQ wam.mm oma.oom m.o mm oem mamn cumzunoz usmoumm HoQEsz HmQEdz Qcmoumm HmQESZ QmQESZ oQOEwm mmSmcmO «boa oQOEmm omSmcmO wood cowmmm CH Counommm CH omuuommm mQSmcflcmm washcflcmm umBOQ mQQ :H Hmzoq mQQ as pom: mmHOQmma mcoQQmummo msuhm cam mom mama: .moma .masmcflcom QmBOQ m.cmmHQoH2 CH memosooum msnmm use mom magma mo mamfimm .o mHQMB 26 maples were measured for d.b.h. (to the nearest one-tenth inch), and the number of tapholes installed in 1965 were counted. In addition, I estimated the total basal area per acre at each point location. All data were recorded on the form shown in Appendix 5. Analysis 9£_Data The forest type maps traced from eight original Forest Survey plottings were merged to form a generalized type map for northern hardwood forests in the Lower Penin- sula. This map was used to identify patterns of forest distribution, and to help locate areas best suited to sup- port an industry of central evaporator plants. The structure and composition of northern hardwood forests was analyzed by using information from the Forest Survey plot records. Each record was summarized, and the plot basal area and the size of the tree of average basal area calculated. Then the records were separated by stand diameter, and grouped according to the four geographical zones shown in Figure 3. For each zone, the plot records were used to construct stand tables by conventional methods. These stand tables provided estimates of the tapholes per acre, the number of tappable sugar maple per acre, the per- cent of basal area in sugar maple, the number of sugar maple lper acre, and the structure of the tappable segment of aver- Eige northern hardwood stands. 27 Figure 3. Selected inventory zones in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. 28 ascom atom Upper northern } half . purufioscm may 10an (DAVID an escrow can W mm Lower northern WMYGO MICOSYA ISAIILLA IDLA'D half an? southern [MIA alum half f A mum p: mu um 1w mmuf Lower southern half an own nu cum: Jammy mar—tin “53 31.10:!" ”AM” NILLJMU 1.!“fo M0300! 29 Growth estimates for sugar maple were calculated from the increment boring data taken in the Forest Survey. These data were subjected to regression analysis in the CDC-3600 computer at the Michigan State University Computer Laboratory. A multiple regression program prepared by Professor D. J. Gerrard, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, was used. The models applied in the regressions were designed to generate growth estimates needed in other phases of the research. Published literature gives no reference to the min- imum number of tapholes needed per acre to justify commercial tapping. Therefore, I calculated the probable costs and returns that might be expected from commercial tapping with- in the Lower Peninsula. From the results, I estimated the minimum numbers of tapholes per acre needed for break-even operation. Later, the Forest Survey plot records and the producer forest inventory data were evaluated by these cri— teria to estimate the total acreage and numbers of tapholes suited for commercial tapping in the northern hardwood for- ests of the Lower Peninsula, and to determine the extent of tappable resources available on producer-owned lands. Data collected from the sample of 48 maple syrup producers were summarized to show the nature, size, and use of tappable resources on individual properties. The mean values and variances were then calculated for the sample of 30 persons selected from the Cooperative Extension Service list- ing and for those producers selected without regard to their being on the listing. T-tests showed that these two sets of data were not significantly different (Appendix 6). There- fore, the data collected from all the producers were com- bined and used jointly to analyze and describe the maple syrup industry within each half of the Lower Peninsula. The results were compared by t-tests to identify differences between the two regions. After the northern hardwood forest resource had been appraised and characteristics of the present commercial industry studied, the findings were collated in order to predict future trends and potential. Here, I studied the characteristics of the industry and the plans of producers for future tapping to determine the probable tapping by 1975. Then, by applying growth data to the producer inventory rec- ords, I estimated the change expected in available tapholes due to growth on producer-owned forests. These estimates of the future resource were compared with the forecast of prob- able tapping to determine the potential for the industry to eXpand production within the next 10 years. Finally, after considering the probable tapping for 1975 I studied the total forest resource of the Lower Penin— sula to determine which regions appeared suited for a new industry of central evaporator plants. Forest distribution 31 was analyzed to identify areas where the tappable resource was sufficient for this purpose. Then the resource data were examined in light of information about land ownership to separate out the areas best suited to accommodate new central evaporator plants. RESULTS The Northern Hardwood Forests _9f the Lower Peninsula Location and Area by Size Class Northern hardwood forests are found throughout the Lower Peninsula (Figure 4). Although they are most heavily concentrated in the northwestern counties, sizable blocks of the type grow in the south—central region. In other por- tions of the Peninsula the northern hardwoods are absent, or they occur in relatively small stands scattered within other forest types. Table 7 lists the proportion and area of northern hardwood stands of differing average diameters within Mich- igan's Lower Peninsula. These estimates show that the bulk of northern hardwood forests occur within the northern 33 counties. However, 83 percent of the northern hardwoods in the northern region are poletimber size. Sixty-seven percent of the area with an average stand diameter of 11.0 inches or larger is found within the southern 35 counties. This appor— tionment of sawtimber does not change abruptly at the bound- ary between the two halves of the Peninsula. Rather, the abundance of sawtimber increases progressively from north to south. 32 33 Figure 4. Geographic location of the northern hardwood type group in Michigan's Lower Peninsula (adapted from original type maps of the Michigan Forest Survey, 1947-1949). Legend: i 5-24 percent forest cover /'T/ // 4%?/4/ 25-49 percent forest cover / §§§§§§§ 50 percent or more forest cover é .32, .. M Wm I l' J ”I Inna. ha .5}- v A .qn. 35 CH omumooH muoam mm>usm QmmM0h mo .m ousmflm mom Q .mocmum mmeoIHmuoEmHo uconmmmec mQQ coHuHomonm mQQ co UmmMQ mum mmumEHumm mmndm www.mm ome.ee~ Hee.mme mesmeaemm Hm3oq muflucm eem.me Hm mom.eee me emm.QOQ om mesmeeemm Hosea we» no name eusom eme.mm mm eem.em mm oom.Qe mm meme BusOm Meson Hmm.em me mmo.ee ma eme.mm em new: space Home: «mm.mQ N QmQ.ooQ ea eme.mmm mm mesmceemm dmzoq we» no mam: euuoz oem.m m mmo.em mm mme.oe we was: canoe meson mmm.oe m meo.me me mme.eme mm new: canoe Homes mmuufi ucmoumm mmno¢ ucooumm mmu0< Qcmoumm + me me He He..m pecammm meUCH I Hmumfimflo woman mmmnm>¢ mmameueeme .Amuam mcflammmlmnwaomwm mo m>wm5aoxov nanosecom Hm3oq m.cmmonHz Cannes mHQOEMHo mmmuo>m mcflnommao mo museum CH muoo3©HMQ cuonuuoc mo mono one cowuuomoum .h mHQma Structure 9f Northern Hardwood Stands The northern hardwood forests of Michigan's Lower Peninsula are primarily uneven-aged and contain a wide range of size classes.1 Their structure, however, differs some— what between the two halves of the Peninsula (Figure 5). This difference is due mainly to dissimilarities in the numbers of stems present in seedling-sapling classes. Other- wise, the average stands portrayed in Figure 5 are remark- ably similar between the two regions. The sugar maple component of the average northern hardwood stands also differs in several respects between the two regions (Table 8). Despite variations in the numbers of sugar maple per acre, the basal area per acre in sugar maple, and the average size of sugar maple stems, the stands with an average diameter of less than 15 inches have similar num- bers of tapholes available per acre throughout the Lower Peninsula. However, for the largest—diameter sawtimber the two regions differ widely. In the northern counties, stands 1The Society of American Foresters (1958) applies the term uneven-aged to stands with 3 age classes represented, and at least a 10-to 20-year range in the ages of trees pres— ent. All northern hardwood stands sampled by the Forest Survey contained at least three size classes of trees, and virtually all plot records show a wide range of size classes within the sampled stands. .Regression analysis of sugar maple age and diameter indicate a good correlation between age and diameter for the species, and show a spread of about 10 years between the 2-inch size classes used by the Forest Survey. Figure 5. 37 Structural form of average northern hardwood stands and their sugar maple component in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 (a: 5-11 inches average stand diameter, b: 11-15 inches average stand diameter, c: 15 inches and larger average stand diameter). A! .' I'l’Mi r,- N um:- . n or I DIAL TOTAL NUMBER OF STEMS PER ACRE TOl'AI. Mm OF STEMS PER ACRE A l I l L . Acne- r..-» r r v D. I. H. v IOIIIDNIIIDNI (Inches) I Inches I Noth he" South 38 OF SUGAR MAPLE PER ACRE haIIoI OF SUGAR MAKE PER ACRE PRIMER I of lower Peninsula asssenuneannn D.I.H. lower Peninsula (Inches) I Inches I .- N’s/A «.— 39 mu ma 0N mm mo 00 MHH 0.NH 000. we 00 Nfl mm hm 0H mm aw mm on aha 0.0 N00. mm mm 0m 0m 0H ma 0H 0m mm mm mdm m.0 mam. 0N vN ma om Ha mm 0H om mma mma N.¢ >00. Hm 0N ma mm mm 0m ma H0 06 mOH NNN 0.5 mom. mm «m mm 50 ma hm m0 00 00¢ >50 0.0 500. H0 00 mm om HmQESZ unmoumm ucooumm HmQESZ Qcmoumm HmQESZ quEsz meocH .00 .em ucmoumm Damouom .uu .em .om .vm nanosecom mo MHMQ cuonusom mQSmGHcmm mo MHMQ cumnuuoz . . . . onus mom moHOQmmB . manna HomSm cw .Q.Q.0 moQUGH 0.0 can» mmoa mEQO . magma Hmmsm CH .Q.Q.0 monocw mHoE Ho 0.0 mEQO .Q.Q.0 meoce whoa no 0.0 magma ummsm . . magma Amman :H mEoum . . meow mom mammE Hmmsm . . meow mom mEoum Hmpoa . . . mmum HomMQ mmmuo>m mo mammfi H005m mo .Q.Q.Q . . . . Empm magma Hmmsm ommum>m mo mono Hmmmm ofioflomu WOSUGH OHOE HO 0.0 magma Human ca mono Hmmmm magma Hmmsm CH mono Hmmmm magma Hmmdm CH mono Hmmmm muom mom mono HomMQ Hmuoe mHIHH HHIm + 0H mHIHH . HHIm + ma monoca I HouoEmHU canon ommum>4 moHumflHmQUmHMQU occum womanhoma .mafim Isacom umBoq m.cmmflQoe2 Ge mumeOM GOOBUHMQ cquuuoc 00 moflumflumuomumno 0cmum .m mange 40 with an average diameter of 15 inches or larger are poorly stocked. While Figure 5 and Table 8 describe average stocking for the Lower Peninsula, individual plot records show that the numbers of sugar maple per acre may vary from place to place within a region. Small numbers of the species do not necessarily indicate that the stand is poorly stocked. Rather, variations in the number of sugar maple present may simply reflect differences in forest composition. The actual numbers of tapholes associated with dif- fering numbers of sugar maple per acre in the Lower Penin- sula can vary greatly. However, typical stocking for var— ious numbers of tappable stems per acre can be estimated by assuming that the proportion of l-, 2-, 3~, and 4-taphole trees2 in each stand will be identical to the proportion of tappable stems in these different tree size-classes found in the average northern hardwood stands portrayed in Figure 5. Table 9 lists these estimates of taphole stocking associated with different numbers of tappable sugar maple per acre. The estimates represent the kinds of stands that might be encountered within the northern hardwoods in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. 2A l-taphole tree is 9.5 to 14.9 inches d.b.h., a 2—taphole tree 15.0 to 19.9 inches d.b.h., a 3-taphole tree 20.0 to 24.9 inches d.b.h., and a 4—taphole tree 25.0 inches d.b.h. and larger. Ugtuun s».p-.—.--..v.cz Apnea-o?! .I-.-a.._- 41 HoQ 0 0H 0N 0N 00H 0N 0N 0H ON on wQQ m 0H SH «N NmH SH SH 0 SH 00 mm m MH 0Q 0N 0NQ «H 0H m 0Q 00 on N HH HQ 0Q 00H QH HH 0 HQ 00 00 N m 0 NH 00 m m e 0 0m mm H m 0 0 00 0 0 m 0 ON MN Q m m o 0N m m H m 0H + 0Q 00 H m 0H 00 m0Q N 0 SH 0e 0h 00 .. w MQ me 50 N e 0Q mm 00 n0 .. m HQ 0m hm N 0 NH mm 00 mm .. N m 0N mm H m 0H 0N 00 He .. N h QN we Q N h 0N 0m 0N .. H o oH mm H N m mH 0N 0Q .. H N m 0H .. H N m 0H mQIHH 0m .. H v 00 0h .. H v 00 0h >0 .. H v 00 m0 .. Q m 0m 00 mm .. H m 0v mm .. Q m 0e om Ho .. .. N hm we .. H N mm 00 Nm .. .. N 0N Nm .. .. N 0N 0m HN .. .. H 0Q HN .. .. H 0H 0N HQ .. .. H 0 HH .. .. H m 0H QQIm emQEdz emQEDZ emQEsz emQEsz emQEdz emQEdz emQEDZ emQEdz emQESZ emQESZ mmmmmm .mmmmmm mmmee mmee mmee mmee mmeu mmmee mmee mmeu mmeu mmeu meow emm mmon HQN meI¢ Qweim QweIN QweIH QHN mwulo mwQIm mwulN mwQIQ mmmee mNHm mHmemwB ocwem mmon mNHm mmeu mQ meow emm mmHOQmwB mmon mNHm mmeo mQ meow emm mmHOQmwB wQSmchmm emBOH mo MHwQ cemQusom wQsmchmm em30H mo MHwQ ceereoz coemmm momHinomH .wQSmcHdmm emBOH m.cmeQoH2 :HQQQB QOwE ewmsm mo mocwem Qcmemwmeo CH mmHonmwe mo emQESZ .0 mHQwB 42 Taphole Stocking Required for Commercial Tapping The feasibility of tapping the northern hardwood stands described in the previous section depends upon the costs and returns realized from an operation. Financial yield will fluctuate according to the number of tapholes available, the volume of sap collected, and the sap sweet- ness. Costs arise from investment in equipment and mate- rials, charges for ownership of equipment, and for labor. Producers encounter conditions suitable for commer— cial tapping in stands where revenues from production equal or exceed the costs incurred. The following model estimates the minimum numbers of tapholes per acre required for this marginal production. It applies to newly established oper- ations tapping producer—owned lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Assumed Operating Conditions and Costs A realistic financial evaluation of sap production must consider use of the most efficient equipment and methods available. Therefore, costs were calculated for sap collection by non—vented plastic tube systems serviced with vacuum pumps. Morrow's (1961) estimate of eight minutes labor per taphole per year was adopted, and assessed at $1.50 per hour. A pumping cost of $0.11 per taphole, sug— gested by Morrow (1963), was used. Ar UN \Avfl . 5 fly» .4. .hu v». is .J. -v :n 43 Figure 6 shows a sample tree-location diagram used to plan the tube system and equipment required for differing numbers of sugar maple distributed over an acre in a uniform diamond-shaped pattern. A separate plotting incorporating a variety of tube sizes in accord with recommendations for flat lands (Appendix 7) was prepared for all stand condi— tions tested, and the amount of tubing required for each situation estimated from the diagrams. Since woodlands within the Lower Peninsula are frequently located some dis- tance from a road, extra tubing was added to permit trans- port of the sap through the woodlot plus one-quarter mile from the sugarbush to a roadside saphouse or collection point (Appendix 8). Quotations obtained in the fall of 1965 set the equipment and material prices used in the analysis (Appen- dix 9). The model assumes a lO-year life expectancy for tube items and storage tanks, and 5 years for the power tap- per and pumps. Investments have been depreciated over these time intervals at six percent per annum compound interest (Appendix 10). Where necessary, investments were prorated over 700 tapholes for operations in the south half of the Peninsula and over 2,000 tapholes per enterprise for the northern region (Appendix ll)° Appendices 12 to 14 give the detailed cost calculations. Appendix 15 summarizes the estimated annual operating costs per taphole. 44 Figure 6. Assumed tree locations and tube gathering systems for 20 and 81 sugar maple trees per acre. Legend: 3/4-inch tubing l/2-inch tubing ______ 5/16-inch tubing 0 Tapped tree 45 <9 9 9 i 9 i I <9 i <9 9 3 ¢ .5 i 9 § 9 C? 5 ¢ 2 9 a . 9 i 9 E 9 i <2 0 ........ . ....... 0 ....... i--- 20 tapholes per acre C) {D (?* C>rC3 (? C}: {3 (D 0 0:0 0 0+0 0 030 0+0 9 OIO 0 0+0 0 ¢ Ofo 6 0+0 C5 0+0 0:0 0 0+0 0 010 o O 040 0 0+0 O Oi0 0i000oo0eoo 9 0§0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0+0 0 0%0 0 0:0 9 81 tapholes per acre 46 Stands were considered fully stocked in order to avoid concern for variations in sap sweetness and yield that might be associated with differences in stand density. In addition, tapholes were assumed treated with paraformalde— hyde pellets and to yield annually 25 gallons per taphole.3 Since sap sweetness of 2.1 OBrix4 appears representative of the Lower Peninsula (Appendix 16), each gallons of sap was evaluated at $0.043 (delivered to the saphouse) (Appendix 17). Tapping by Integrated Sap—syrup Enterprises Appendix 18 illustrates the detailed analysis used for the study. The following tabulation of costs and re— turns for 20 tappable sugar maple trees per acre, located in a stand 5-11 inches average d.b.h. in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, shows the general approach used to determine the practicability of tapping when the sap is processed at the site where collected: 3Yield is based on estimates by Robbins (1966) for a 25 percent increase above the average of 19 gallons per taphole that might be eXpected in Lower Michigan (Robbins, 1949). 4OBrix expresses sap density as the percentage of sugars plus other solids in solution. 47 COSTS PER ACRE: Annual cost of equipment . . . $ 7.40 Other annual costs . . . . . . 10.92 Total . . . . . . . . . . $ 18.32 REVENUE PER ACRE: Sap value . . . . . . . . . . $ 22.58 SURPLUS PER ACRE . . . . . . . . . $ 4.26 Because the revenues exceed the costs, the 20 sugar maples per acre are sufficient to place production above the break— even point. Table 10 shows the results from analyzing tap- ping in stands with 10 to 70 tappable sugar maples per acre as depicted in Table 9. In all these cases tapping provides a surplus of revenue over costs when the sap is processed on the property where collected. The approximate production costs for operating with plastic tube systems employed in the manner described above range from just under $0.03 to about $0.04 per gallon depend— ing upon the stand conditions encountered (Table 11). For production circumstances that demand different costs, yields, or interest rates than those used above, the average cost per gallon will change. For example, a lower labor charge and interest rate will lower the cost and increase the sur— plus, while less sap yield and lower OBrix will correspond- ingly reduce the revenue. Data in Table 10 indicate that IF-iIi 48 00.00 + 00.QOQ 00.00Q QOQ 00.N0 + 00.m0Q 00.HMH 00H 00 00.00 + 00.0NH 00.00 mQH 00.N0 + 00.m0H mm.HHH NOH 00 00.Hm + 00.00Q 00.00 00 00.H0 + 00.00Q 00.m0 0NH 00 00.0N + 00.00 00.00 00 00.Nm + 00.00H 00.00 00H 00 00.0Q + 00.00 No.00 00 H0.0N + 00.00 0m.Q0 00 00 00.HQ + 00.H0 00.00 0m 00.0Q + 00.00 00.00 00 ON 0N.0 + 0N.Nm 00.0N om 00.0H + N0.00 00.00 00 0Q 0N.0 + m0.0N 00.0H 0N 00.0 + 00.0N 00.0N 0N 0H + 0H HN.0N + 0N.00H 00.00 00 0N.Nm + N0.0HQ 00.00 00Q 00 0Q.0N + 0H.Q0 00.00 00 0Q.0N + 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.0H + 00.N0 00.N0 00 Nm.NN + 00.Nm 00.00 00 00 00.0H + 00.00 00.N0 m0 00.0H + N0.m0 00.00 00 00 00.0Q + 00.00 00.00 H0 0H.QQ + 00.00 0N.0m 00 Om NH.0 + 00.0N 00.0N 0N 00.0 + 00.00 00.0N mm 0N 0H.0 + 00.HN Nm.0Q 0N 0N.0 + 00.NN 00.0H HN 0Q 00.N + 00.0H 00.NQ 0Q 00.N + 00.0H 00.NQ 0H 0H 0HIQH 00.HN + 00.H0 0Q.00 00 00.HN + 00.H0 0Q.00 00 00 00.0H + 00.N0 00.N0 00 00.0H + 00.00 N0.H0 00 00 00.0H + MQ.00 00.00 00 00.0H + 0Q.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 + 00.00 00.00 H0 00.0H + 00.00 00.00 00 00 0H.0 + 00.00 0N.0N Nm 0H.0 + 00.00 mm.0N Nm Om 0N.0 + 00.NN N0.0H QN 0N.0 + 00.NN N0.0Q QN 0N 00.N + 0N.0H 00.0H 0Q 00.N + 0N.0H 00.0H 00 0Q 0N.Q + N0.HH 00.0H HQ 0N.Q + N0.HH 00.0H HQ 0H QHI0 merQom merQom mewHQom mmmamm mewHHOQ merQOQ mewHHoo mwmmmm mmmmmm mmmwmm mstedm Genome emoo meow emm msHmesm ceseme umoo meow emm meow emm wmeo stccfi Qwsccfi meOQmwB Qwsccfi QwSCGN mmHOQmwB mmmeu mNHm mHmemwB ocwum wQSchcmm emBOH mo 0QwQ cemQuSom wQsmchmm emBOH mo MQwQ cemQueoz conmm 000H .omeomHQoo memQB muemmoem mQQ Qw 0mmmmooem mH QUSUOem mQQ :mQB COHQUSUOem mwm Eoem mmmdeeSw 00w .mceSQme .mumoo .0Q mQQmB 49 0N0.0 00.00Q 0N0.0 HOQ 0N0.0 00.QOH 000.0 00H 00 000.0 00.00 000.N mQH 0N0.0 00.QQQ 000.0 NOH 00 000.0 00.00 000.N 00 000.0 00.00 00H.0 0NH 00 000.0 00.00 000.H 00 000.0 00.00 000.N 00H 00 N00.0 No.00 000.Q 00 H00.0 00.Q0 000.N 00 00 Q00.0 00.00 000 00 000.0 00.00 000.H 00 ON N00.0 00.0H 000 0N H00.0 00.0N 000 0N 0H + 0H Q00.0 00.00 000.N 00 000.0 00.00 000.N 00H 00 Q00.0 00.00 0NQ.N 00 000.0 00.00 0NN.N 00 00 N00.0 00.N0 000.H 00 Q00.0 00.00 0N0.H 00 00 N00.0 00.N0 0N0.H 00 H00.0 00.00 000.H 00 00 000.0 00.00 0N0.H H0 000.0 0N.00 00H.H 00 00 000.0 00.0N 0N0 0N 000.0 00.0N 0N0 00 ON 000.0 00.NQ 000 0H 000.0 00.NQ 000 0H 0H 0HIHQ N00.0 0Q.00 000.H 00 N00.0 0Q.00 000.H 00 00 N00.0 00.N0 000.H 00 N00.0 N0.H0 0N0.H 00 00 N00.0 00.00 000.H 00 N00.0 00.00 000.H 00 00 000.0 00.00 0N0.Q H0 000.0 00.00 00Q.Q 00 00 000.0 0N.0N 000 N0 000.0 0N.0N 000 N0 00 000.0 00.0H 0N0 QN 000.0 N0.0H 0N0 QN 0N 000.0 00.0H 00N HQ 000.0 00.0H 00N HH 0Q HHI0 merQom mewHHon mcoQQwo emQEsz mewHQoo merQom mcoHHwo emQEdz emQEdz mmzocH coHme Qmoo meow emm meow emm coQme emoo meow emm meow emm meow emm mmeo emm Qmoo Hwooe mwm mmHOQmwB emm Qmoo kuoe mwm mmHOQmwB mmmeu mNHm mQmemwB wcwom wQsmchmm emBOH 00 waQ cemnusom wQsmchmm emBOH mo MQwQ cemQueoz coemmm 000H .0muomQHoo memQB wuemmoem mQu ow 0mmmmooem 00w mccwum UmMooum wHucmemmmec Eoem omeomQQoo mwm QOwE mo COQme emm memoo .HH mHQwH Ffi (I. I .erli ‘I 50 even with a lower sap sweetness, smaller yield per taphole, higher interest rate, and higher labor charge than used above, producers could operate profitably with plastic tube systems to gather sap at the site where it will be processed. Sap Production for Sale t .3 Central Evaporator Plant The advent of central evaporator plants opened pros- pects for sale of sap either at the production site or delivered to the processing plant. In the former case, the plant management transports the sap, and levies a charge for this service. In the latter situation, the sap producer transports the sap and directly absorbs all transportation costs. Although the actual cost for transporting sap will vary for different production situations, a levy of $0.005 to $0.015 per gallon appears appropriate for most cases in— volving roadside sale (Anonymous, 1962; Willits, 1965). Accordingly, $0.01 per gallon was added to the costs in the model presented above, and the results summarized in Table 12. Under these new conditions, tapping is feasible only with taphole stockings greater than or equal to those shown in Table 13. While many stands could support a greater transporta— tion cost than used above, adjustment of the transportation charges up or down from $0.01 per gallon will cause the 51 00.NQ + 00.HOH 00.00H HOH 00.0H + 00.00Q 00.00Q 00H 00 00.0 + 00.0NH 00.0QQ mQQ 00.0H + 00.00Q 00.00Q NOH 00 00.0 + 00.00Q 00.00 00 00.0H + 00.00Q 00.0NQ 0NH 00 0H.0 + 00.00 00.00 00 00.0 + 00.00Q 00.00 00H 00 00.H + 00.00 No.00 00 H0.0 + 00.00 00.Q0 00 00 Q0.H + 00.H0 NH.00 00 0Q.0 + 00.00 00.00 00 ON 00.0 + 00.0N 0N.0N 0N 00.H + 00.0N 00.0N 0N 0H + 0H HQ.0 + 0N.00H 00.00 00 00.0 + N0.0HQ 0H.00Q 00H 00 00.0 + 0Q.H0 0N.00 00 00.0 + 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.N + 00.N0 00.00 00 00.0 + 00.N0 QN.00 00 00 00.H + 00.00 00.00 00 N0.N + N0.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 + 00.00 00.00 H0 0H.0 + 00.00 0N.00 00 00 0H.0 I 00.0N Q0.0N 0N 0N.0 + 00.00 0N.00 00 ON N0.0 I 00.0H 00.0H 0H N0.0 I 00.0H 00.0H 0H 0H 0QIHH 00.N + 00.Q0 0Q.00 00 00.N + 00.Q0 0Q.00 00 00 00.N + 00.N0 00.00 00 QN.N + 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 + 0Q.00 00.00 00 00.0 + 0Q.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 I 00.00 00.00 H0 0N.0 I 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 I 00.00 0N.00 N0 00.0 I 00.00 0N.00 N0 00 00.0 I 00.NN 00.0N QN 00.0 I 00.NN 00.0N HN 0N 00.H I N0.QQ 00.0H HQ 00.H I N0.HH 00.0H HQ 0H HHI0 merHon merHon mewHHoni .mmmmmm .mmMflflmm merHom mewHQom mwmmmm .mmmmmm .mwmmmw mstesm Genome umoo meow emm msteSm quume emoo meow emm meow emm mmon Qwsccd Qwsccfi mmHOQQwB stcc¢ stccd mmHOQmwB mmmeu mNHm mHmemwB ocwom stmcHCmm emBOH mo wHwQ ceersom wHSmchmm em30H mo 0HwQ cemQueoz coemmm 000H .wmeomHHoo memQB muemmoem er Eoem mwa eeommcwee e00 0Qom me uosooem mQQ chB GOHQoswoem mwm Eoem mmmDQmesm 00w .mcedume .mumoo .NH mQQwB Table 13. 52 Minimum number Of tapholes per acre required for break-even Operation when sap is sold for trans- port away from the prOperty where collected Required tapholes per acre Stand size Northern half Of Southern half Of class Lower Peninsula Lower Peninsula Inches Number Number 5-11 46 48 11-15 31 34 15+- 10 10 53 threshold point to fluctuate. Table 14 shows the maximum amounts available to defray transportation charges for each differently stocked stand considered above. These values are based on the surpluses listed in Table 10. Table 15 indicates the general transportation charges permitted for the average northern hardwood stands Of the Lower Peninsula described in Table 8. While roadside purchase can be used, most central evaporator plants rely upon delivered sap to satisfy produc- tion needs. For the sap producer, daily delivery to a plant 5 miles from the sugarbush costs about $0.011 per gallon (Appendix l9)° Commercial tapping, then, is justified only in stands that provide revenues sufficient to Offset normal tapping costs plus this transportation fee. Table 16 clearly demonstrates the effect Of adding the $0.011 transportation charge to the other Operating costs. With this new expense, tapping is not justified unless stands contain at least the number Of tapholes per acre shown in Table 17. These minima, then, define the general requirements for successful tapping with sap deliv- ery to a central evaporator plant located within Michigan's Lower Peninsula. If the haul distance, trucking charges, and labor costs varied from those applied in the model, the break-even level would shift accordingly. Producers could, therefore, modify the various factors to fit their particular 54 0Q0.0 00.00 + 0N0.0 QOQ 0H0.0 00.N0 + 000.0 00H 00 0H0.0 00.00 + 000.N mQH 0H0.0 00.N0 + 000.0 NOQ 00 0Q0.0 00.H0 + 000.N 00 0H0.0 00.H0 + 00Q.0 0NH 00 0H0.0 00.0N + 000.Q 00 0Q0.0 00.N0 + 000.N 00H 00 HH0.0 00.0H + 000.H 00 NH0.0 H0.0N + 000.N 00 00 N#0.0 00.HH + 000 00 0Q0.0 00.0H + 000.H 00 ON H 0.0 0N.0 + 000 0N NH0.0 00.0 + 000 0N 0H + 0H NH0.0 HN.0N + 000.N 00 0Q0.0 0N.N0 + 000.N 00H 00 000.0 0Q.0N + 0NH.N 00 0H0.0 0H.0N + 0NN.N 00 00 HQ0.0 00.0H + 000.Q 00 NH0.0 N0.NN + 0N0.H 00 00 HH0.0 00.0H + 0N0.Q 00 NH0.0 00.0H + 000.Q 00 00 0H0.0 00.0H + 0N0.H H0 0H0.0 0H.QQ + 00H.H 00 00 0Q0.0 NH.0 + 0N0 0N 0Q0.0 00.0 + 0N0 00 ON 000.0 00.N + 000 0H 000.0 00.N + 000 0H 0H 0HIQH HQ0.0 00.HN + 000.H 00 HH0.0 00.HN + 000.Q 00 00 HH0.0 00.0H + 000.H 00 HH0.0 00.0H + 0N0.H 00 00 HH0.0 00.0H + 000.H 00 HQ0.0 00.0H + 000.H 00 00 000.0 00.0 + 0N0.H Q0 0H0.0 00.0H + 00Q.Q 00 00 000.0 0H.0 + 000 N0 000.0 0H.0 + 000 N0 00 000.0 0N.0 + 0N0 QN 000.0 0N.0 + 0N0 HN 0N 000.0 0N.Q + 00N HQ 000.0 0N.Q _+ 00N QQ 0H HHI0 IWerHOQ mewHHOQ mcoHQwo emQESZ mewHQOQ wewHQOQ mQOHQwO emQEdZ emQESZ meocH mmero msHmeSm meow meow emm mmero msteSm meow meow emm meow emm mmeo eeommcwee Qwuoe emm mmHOQmwB eeommcwee Qwuoe emm mmHOQmwB mmmeu mNHm mQszoQQm mwm mQQwBOQH< mwm mHmemwB ocwem wHSmchmm emBoH mo MQwQ cemQusom stmcecmm emBOH mo MQwQ cemQQeoz coemmm 000H .0muomHQoo memQB heemmoem mQu Eoew 0w3w neommcweu e00 0Hom mwm e00 soHme emm mmero coHuwueommawee mQQwBOHHN .0Q mHQwB 55 Table 15. Maximum permissible transportation charges for sap collected from average northern hardwood stands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 Northern half of Southern half of Lower Peninsula Lower Peninsula Allowable Allowable Stand Tapholes charge Tapholes charge size class per acre per gallon per acre per gallon Inches Number Dollars Number Dollars 5-11 15 0.006 16 0.006 11-15 33 0.010 37 0.010 15+ 11 0.005a 49 0.012 aEstimated from calculations for 11 tapholes in a stand 5-11 inches average diameter, northern counties. H .a—d 56 0H.0 + 00.HOH N0.NOQ . HOH 00.NQ + 00.00Q 00.00Q 00H _ 00 00.0 + 00.0NH H0.0NH mHH 0N.0H + 00.00Q 0H.00H NOH . 00 00.0 + 00.00Q 00.HOH 00 00.0 + 00.00Q H0.0NH 0NH 00 00.N + 00.00 0H.Nm 00 00.0 + 00.00Q 0H.NOH 00H 00 No.0 I 00.00 N0.00 00 Q0.N + 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 + 00.H0 0Q.H0 00 00.N + 00.00 NN.00 00 ON 0H.0 I 00.0N 00.0N 0N 00.0 + 00.0N 00.0N 0N A 0H + 0H H0.N + 0N.00H 00.00Q 00 00.0 + N0.0HQ 00.00Q 00H A 00 00.H + 0H.H0 00.00 00 N0.0 + 00.00 00.N0 0m 00 00.0 + 00.N0 00.H0 00 0H.H + 00.N0 00.H0 00 00 H0.0 + 00.00 00.00 00 0H.H + N0.00 0N.N0 00 _ 00 00.0 I 00.00 No.00 H0 00.H I 00.00 00.00 00 . 00 00.0 I 00.0N 00.0N 0N 00.0 I 00.00 00.00 00 1 ON 0N.Q I 00.0H N0.0Q 0H 0N.Q I 00.0H N0.0Q 0H 0H 0HIQH 00.0 + 00.H0 00.H0 00 00.0 + 00.H0 00.H0 00 00 N0.0 + 00.N0 HH.H0 00 00.0 + 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.0 I 0Q.00 00.00 00 00.0 I 0H.00 00.00 00 _ 00 00.H I 00.00 H0.00 H0 00.H I 00.00 00.00 00 00 00.H I 00.00 00.00 N0 00.H I 00.00 00.00 N0 00 _ 00.H I 00.NN 0H.0N HN N0.H I 00.NN 0H.0N HN 0N _ 00.H I N0.HH 00.0H HH 00.H I N0.HH 00.0H HH 0H HHI0 mewHHOQ mewHQOQ mewHHom mmmamm mewHHoa mewHHom mewHHOQ .mwmmmm .mmmamm mmmmmm. mDHmesm ceseme umoo meow emm msHmedm Genome emoo meow emm meow emm mmeo stccd stcc¢ meOQmwB stcsm stcem mmHonmwB _ mmmeu mNHm _mHmemwB . Ucwem stmcHCmm emBOH mo MHwQ cemQusom wHSmchmm emBOH mo MHwQ semQueOZIb OOHmmm “ m 000H .uame eouweomw>m er 0Q mmHHE m>Hm Umueommcweu mH nonwoem mQu chB coHuosooem mwm Eoem mmmsHmesm 00w .mGeSQme .mumoo .0Q mHQwB Table 17. 57 Minimum number Of tapholes per acre required for break-even operation when sap is delivered five miles to the evaporator plant Required tapholes per acre Stand size Northern half Of Southern half of class Lower Peninsula Lower Peninsula Inches Number Number 5-11 61 60 11-15 51 53 15+- 10 24 58 conditions, and evaluate the suitability of their forests to support commercial tapping. The PrOSpects for Profitable Tapping Operations The conclusions and recommendations Offered above assume rational action by producers, and identify limits for profitable tapping within the Lower Peninsula. In essence, the models show that stand stocking is Of minor consequence in operations that gather sap by plastic tube systems and process it into syrup at the production locality. But pre- vious optimism about profits from selling sap to central evaporator plants deserves qualification. To insure profits, Operators must limit activity to stands sufficiently stocked to provide revenue in excess Of normal operating costs plus the cost of transportation. Only forests stocked as well as or more heavily than those shown in Tables 13 and 17 should be considered for this use. If plant managers eXperience difficulty procuring sap due to scarcity Of suitably stocked stands near the evaporator plant, they could offer roadside purchase and enhance procurement efforts. Also, efficient processors could increase the purchase price. Pasto and Taylor (1962) suggest that with a syrup value of $6.00 per gallon, effi- cient processors Operating large automated plants could pay as much as $0.09 to $0.10 per gallon (delivered) for 2.0 59 OBrix sap. However, cost analysis data presented above show that sap can be delivered to the evaporator plant for approx- imately $0.045 to $0.055 per gallon. For most cases in the Lower Peninsula, raising the purchase price only $0.01 per . gallon for sap Of average OBrix would increase revenues sufficiently to permit tapping with plastic tube systems. 60 The Tappable Resource lg Michigan's Lower Peninsula and Its Suitability for Commercial Tapping Total Tapholes Available In 1950, the northern hardwood forests of Michigan's Lower Peninsula contained approximately 22.3 million tap- holes (Table 18). Within the northern 33 counties, the bulk of the tappable resource was in pole-size stands. But in the southern region, the tappable resource was mostly con- centrated in sawtimber forests. Although northern hardwood stands occupy a greater total area within the northern region than in the south, the preponderance Of well stocked sawtimber stands in the south- ern counties compensates for the smaller acreage Of northern hardwoods there. TO illustrate, whereas 57 acres provided 1,000 tapholes in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula, 1,000 Were found on only 30 acres in the southern counties. Despite the acreage differences between the two regions, the tappable northern hardwood resource in 1950 was almost equally divided between the northern and southern portions Of the Peninsula (Table 18). Resources Suited for Commercial Tapping Maple sap can be commercially produced in the seg— ment Of the total northern hardwood forest that is suffi— ciently stocked to permit break-even Operation. Tapping 61 .0 mesmem mmm Q .0 mHQwB Ge mmewEHumm mmwmeow er 00w 0 mHQwB CH :BOQm mcHMooum mHOQmwu no 0mmwmw 000.000.NN 000.000.0 000.00N.0 00H.000.0 wHSmeHcmm emsoH meHecm 0N0.N00.HH 000.0N0.0 00H.000.0 000.0N0.H wHSmchmm mQQ mo 0HwQ cemnusom N00.000.0 000.000.H 0N0.0HN.0 000.000 MHwQ QuSOm em3OH 000.NON.0 0N0.000.Q 00N.N00.N 000.000 0HwQ QUSOm emmmD 000.NHO.HH N00.00H 0N0.000.0 000.N00.0 demchmm er mo MHwQ GemQQeoz 00H.00H.N 000.00 000.0N0.H 00N.H00.H MHwQ nueoc em3OH 000.00H.0 N00.0HH 0H0.00N.N 0N0.H00.0 MHwQ Qeeoc emmmD mmHOQmwB mmHOQmwB mmHOQmwB mmHOQmwB Hmuoe + 0Q mHiHQ QQIm necemmm meoaH I emumeHU chem mmwem>4 w000HI000H .wHSmchmm emBOH n.0w0HQon cHQuHB moeSOmme mHmemwu Hmeou wee .mH menme 62 must be limited to stands with a minimum taphole stocking shown in Tables 13 and 17 if the sap is sold to a central evaporator plant. About half Of the northern hardwood poletimber and three—fourths Of the sawtimber within the Lower Peninsula is sufficiently stocked to permit commercial tapping if the sap is processed at the collection site. Within the northern region, pole-size stands comprise about 60 percent Of these usable resources. By contrast, the bulk Of forest area suited for tapping by integrated sap-syrup enterprises with- in the southern half Of the Peninsula is in sawtimber stands (Table 19). Approximately one-third Of the 660,000 acres suffi- ciently stocked to support tapping by integrated sap-syrup operations are adapted to production using roadside sale to dispose Of the sap° Only one-fifth of the area is suited for tapping if the sap is delivered tO an evaporator plant. About 38,000 acres in the northern counties and 94,000 acres in the southern region can be profitably tapped if the sap is delivered tO a central evaporator plant (Table 19 and Appendix 20). In general, sawtimber forests are best suited for this latter use. Only five to seven percent Of the pole stands in the Lower Peninsula can be worked under these circumstances. 63 0N 00 00 wHwQ cemzueoc CH wmew mHwaD Q0 00 00 MHwQ cemQDSOm CH wmew mHmeD 000.QOH 0H 000.00N NN 000.000 Q0 000.H00 wmew kuoe 000.00 00 000.0NH 00 00Q.NOQ 00 000.HON emQEHe3wm m0ewH 000.0N 0H 00H.00 QN 0N0.00H N0 000.00N emQEHezwm QQw80 stmsecmm NOQ.0N 0 000.00 0 000.00N 00 000.000 emQEHumHom em3OH 00H.00 N0 000.00 N0 000.00Q 00 000.00H emQEHu3wm m0ewH wHSmchmm 000.0Q 0H 00N.00 0N 000.00 N0 000.00H emQEHu3wm HQw20 00 quQ N00.0 0 000.0 HQ 000.NN 00 00N.00 emQEHQmHom cemnusom 00N.00 00 0H0.00 00 00N.00 00 000.00H emQEHu3wm m0ewH 03.0 3 000.0 3 03.3 H0 8ko emeseuzmm :90 mean N00.Q 0 000.N NH 000.0 0N OON.0N emQEHquom Qusom em3OQ 000.0N O0 00N.00 00 000.00 00 000.00 emQEHu3wm mmewH 000.QH 0Q 000.NN 00 00N.00 N0 000.00 emQEHqum HHwEm MHwQ 000.N 0Q 000.N 0H 000.0Q N0 000.0N emQEHumHom £050m emeD 00N.0H 0H 000.0N Q0 0QN.00 N0 00N.00 emQEHu3wm m0ewH wQsmcecmm 0H0.0 0 Q00.0H 0Q NNH.N0 N0 000.0NH emQEHuzwm QHw50 mo MHwQ 0H0.0N 0 0Q0.0N 0 000.00N 00 000.000 emQEHumHom cemQueoz 000 0 N00.0 00 00H.0Q 00 000.0H emQEHeme m0ewH 000.N 0 000.0 HQ 000.0Q 00 000.00 emQEHezwm QHw50 MHwQ .. .. .. .. 000.00 00 000.00 emQEHeonm nueoc emBOH 08.0 on 3de mm meodm as 80.0... 38:33.... 033 000.0 0 000.0Q 0H 000.N0 00 00H.00 emQEHquw HHw20 unn 0H0.0N 0 0H0.0N 0 000.00Q 00 00N.000 emQEHumHom Queoc emamD mme04 ucmoemm mmeod ucmoemm mmeod ucmoemm mmeoc mmHHE m>Hw omem>QHm0 mvemnwoe UQOm omeomQHoo memQ3 commmooem wmew mmeo mNHm seemmm mwm .wmew QweoemEEoo mwm .wmew QwHoemEEOU mwm .wmew HwHoemEEOU kuoe ocwem 000HI000H .wHSmchmm em3OH m.:w0HQoH2 CH GOHeoscoem mwm HwHoemEEoo e00 cmuHSm wmew unmeom 00030ew: aemnueoz .0Q mQQwB 64 The entire area Of northern hardwoods that is suffi- ciently stocked to permit commercial tapping (local use) con- tained about 20.7 million tapholes in 1947-1949 (Table 20). Of this total, stands suited for tapping with roadside sap sale had about 12.9 million tapholes, while those adapted for use with delivery Of the sap to an evaporator plant con- tained approximately 9.6 million. Northern hardwood stands within the southern 35 counties provide the greatest number Of tapholes suited for commercial tapping under all production situations. In 1950, they contained 53 percent Of the total adapted to local use, 68 percent suited for use with roadside sap sale, and 72 percent of the resource capable of supporting profitable Operations requiring sap delivery. About two-thirds of the tapholes in stands suited for this latter use within the northern region in 1950 were in pole-size forests. However, within the southern counties, the tappable resources within poletimber stands were Of minor consequence. 65 000.000.0 00 000.HOQ 000.000.NH N0 000.00N 000.000.0N 00 000.000 Qwuos 000.000.0 00 000.00 000.000.0 00 000.0NH 000.N00.0 00 00Q.NOQ emQEHu3wm mmewH wHSm N00.000.H 00 000.0N 00H.000.0 N0 00H.00 000.00N.0 N0 0N0.00Q emQEHu3wm QHwEm Ichmm 000.000.N 00 NOH.0N 000.000.N 00 000.00 Q00.000.0 0N 000.00N emQEHeonm emBOH 000.0H0.0 00 000.00 00H.0N0.0 00 000.00H 0N0.N00.HQ 00 000.00N kuoe 00N.00N.0 H0 00H.00 0Q0.000.0 00 000.00 0N0.00H.0 N0 000.00H emQEHezwm mmer 000.000.Q 00 000.0Q 000.000.N 00 00N.00 N00.00H.0 N0 000.00 emQEHqum QQwEm 0HwQ 000.000 00 N00.0 0N0.000 Q0 000.0 000.H00 Q0 000.NN emQEHquom ceersom N00.H00.N 00 000.00 0HQ.000.0 00 HN0.00 000.0N0.0 0N Q00.000 Qwuoe 000.0N0 Q0 00N.0H 000.000 00 000.0N 000.000.H 00 0HN.00 emQEHu3wm mmewH 0N0.000 00 0Q0.0 00H.000 00 H00.0H 000.0HH.N 0N NNH.N0 emQEHDme HHwE0 0QwQ 000.000.Q 00 0H0.0N 000.HOH.N 00 0H0.0N 000.000.0 0N 000.0NN emQEHumHom cemQueoz emQEdz emQEfiZ mmeom emQESZ emQESZ mmeo< emQEsz emQEdZ mmeofi meOQmwe meow emm wme< meOQmwo meow emm wmem meOQmwu meow emm wmed mmon muem coemmm kuoe meOQQwB Hweoe mmHOQQwB kuoe meOQmwB meHE m>Hm 0mem>HQm0 mwm mnemowoe 0H0m mwm omeomQQoo memQ3 0mmmmooem mwm 000QI000Q .wQDmchmm emBOH m.:w0HQon :H :oHuosooem mwm HwHoemEEoo eow 0mUHsm meOQmwu Qwooa .0N mQQwB 66 The Maple Syrup Industry ip_Michigan's Lower Peninsula The present maple syrup industry, with 810 producers, uses about 372,770 Of the total tapholes available (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). Beside being small, the industry exhibits characteristics Of Operation and resource use that help explain the past, present, and probable future tapping. Characteristics 9£_Operations Study Of producer sample data, in conjunction with information from the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966), disclosed recent changes in the amount and distribution Of tapping in the Lower Peninsula. For example, while the number Of Operations decreased between 1959 and 1964, total tapping increased slightly. This resulted in an apparent increase in the average number Of tapholes used per operation (Table 21). Between 1959 and 1964, tapping did not increase uni- formly throughout the Lower Peninsula. Rather, it increased in some areas and decreased in others. For example, during the 5-year period, total tapping increased 18 percent in the northern counties, and the proportion of Lower Peninsula producers located in the northern region increased by 6 per- cent. However, during the same period tapping declined by 9 percent within the southern counties. As a result, while only 39 percent Of all tapping was within the northern 33 67 .000H .H00H .msmcmo .esm .0.D "moesomw 000 .. .. HNO.N00 0H0 000H mmHucsoo 000 .. .. 0Q0.000 000 000H QHN 000 00 00 H00.00H 000 000H NON H0 00 000.NOH 0N0 000H 0HwQ £0500 000 00 N0 00H.00N 000 000H 000 00 00 000.0HQ 000 000H MQwQ Qeeoz emQEsz ecmoemm osmoemm emQEdz emQESZ coHuwemmo emm mmHOQmwB memoSUOem 0mm: memosooem ewmw coH0mm mmHOQmwu m0wem>4 mmHOQmwB w000QI000H .wHDmchmm emBOH m.sw0HQon GHQDHB msemmwe 0H mmmcho .HN mHQwB 68 counties in 1959, by 1964 northern producers were using 55 percent Of the tapholes installed in the Lower Peninsula. Producer sample data shed some light upon the nature of this change in the amount and distribution of tapping in the Lower Peninsula. Between 1963 and 1965, 56 percent Of Operations within the northern 33 counties decreased the size of their tapping and only 11 percent increased produc- tion. Nevertheless, the northern region experienced an over— all growth Of 11 percent by commercial enterprises during the 3 year period. Within the southern 35 counties, only 21 percent Of the producers decreased tapping, and 35 per- cent expanded their operations. Still, resource use within the southern region decreased by four percent (Table 22). Because the expansion in the north exceeded the decline in the southern region, tapping increased for the Lower Penin- sula and continued to concentrate within the northern 33 counties. This increase within the northern region resulted from rather large-scale expansion by a relatively small pro- portion of the commercial industry. The tapping decline noted for the southern counties was due to drastic cutbacks or terminations, also by a small proportion Of the producers. Table 23 shows the percentage of present commercial operations in each of three arbitrary size categories and the average number Of tapholes used by operations in these classes. Since few producers purchase sap to supplement their own tapping the data in Table 23 represent the size 69 Table 22. Change in size Of tapping Operations during the period 1963-1965 by producers sampled in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 Region Entire Northern Southern Lower Change noted half half Peninsula Operations sampled l8 19 37 Percent Percent Percent Operations that increased tapping 11 32 23 Operations that reduced tapping 56 21 36 Operations that did not change tapping 33 47 41 Change in tapholes used in the region +11 - 4 + 4 aWeighted averages based on the proportions Of pro- ducers and tapholes reported for each half of the Lower Penin- sula in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S° Bur. Census, 1966). 70 Table 23. Size Of sapping operations sampled within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 Northern 33 counties Southern 33 counties Average Average Size tapholes tapholes Operation Producers used Producers used Tapholes Percent Number Percent Number (All Operations sampled) 0-499 10 250 61 307 500-999 33 621 30 746 1,000 + 57 2,914 9 1,425 All 100 1,896 100 538 (Operations that do not purchase extra sap) 0-499 11 250 59 310 500-999 39 621 32 746 1,000 + 50 2,908 9 1,425 A11 100 1,723 100 550 71 of maple syrup enterprises within the Lower Peninsula.5 The most striking relationship shown in Table 23 is that a major- ity Of northern enterprises use more than 1,000 tapholes. However, most southern operations presently utilize less than 500 tapholes. Willits (1965) contends that enterprises using less than 500 tapholes are not profitable. On this basis, 40 percent Of the Lower Peninsula industry appears submarginal, including 61 percent of Operations now active in the southern 35 counties. The same contrast in the size Of enterprises between the two halves of the Peninsula noted in Table 23 also appears in data reported in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). There, the tabulation shows that operations average 606 tapholes in the northern counties and 345 in the southern region6 (Table 21)° In Table 21 it was shown that the averagesize Of Operations increased between 1959 and 1964. Based on the data in Table 23, it appears that this regional growth in the average size Of individual enterprises resulted from the termination of many small 5Only 1 Of the 22 syrup Operations sampled in the southern region and 3 of the 20 in the northern counties reported sap purchase. 6The 1964 Census Of Agriculture enumerated produc- tion by the commercial enterprises and the many small non- commercial operations that produce syrup for family use. Because the present study considers only the commercial enterprises, the averages shown in Table 23 are larger than the Census data. 72 Operations rather than from eXpanded tapping by the remain- ing ones. The bulk Of these present commercial businesses within the maple syrup industry of the Lower Peninsula began operations several years ago. Within the southern 35 coun- ties, 22 percent Of operations trace their origin back 50 years or more and 45 percent have produced for at least 25 years. Of those in the northern region, 13 percent are 50 or more years Old, and 25 percent were established 25 or more years ago. These records of longevity nicely complement the shifts in production noted earlier. For example, within the southern part Of the Peninsula, only 4 percent Of current operations started within the past 5 years. But 17 percent of the present industry in the northern 33 counties began production since 1960. Thus, the northern region attracted more new Operations recently than did the south, and gained more new tapholes to Offset losses from terminating or declining operations. These age data also help eXplain both the instabil- ity in numbers Of operations shown in the 1964 Census of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966) and the shift in pro- portion Of Operations located within the two halves Of the Peninsula between 1959 and 1964. While 23 percent Of the present enterprises started production during that 5—year period, only 9 percent initiated their Operations within the 73 .past 5 years. Furthermore, those that began tapping between 1959 and 1965 were 17 percent fewer than the number that terminated production between 1959 and 1964. This caused a reduction in the total numbers Of operations within the Lower Peninsula, but at a more rapid rate in the south than in the north. In many respects the sapping equipment used by the Lower Peninsula producers echoes the age Of their Operations. Seventy percent Of the producers interviewed use buckets to collect sap, another 2 percent use plastic bags, and 28 per- cent employ a mixture of equipment, primarily buckets and bags. Only 1 Of the 48 hangs any appreciable amount of plastic tubing. With this antiquated equipment,great amounts of manual labor are utilized in the sapping opera- tions. For example, the sampled producers reported the following numbers Of men required daily for sap gathering: Northern half Of Lower Peninsula 2.9 men Southern half Of Lower Peninsula 3.6 men Lower Peninsula average 3.3 men.7 7 Data for the Lower Peninsula are weighted averages based on the numbers Of producers and tapholes reported for each half Of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 74 Lamb (u.d.) reports that 1 man can work about 3,000 tapholes if plastic tube systems are used to gather the sap. With their antiquated bucket Operations, producers in the southern counties Of the Lower Peninsula require 1 man for every 149 tapholes and producers in the northern region need 1 man for every 653 tapholes.8 On the average, the maple syrup industry in the Peninsula uses 1 man for each 240 tap- holes. Willits (1965) claims that by converting from buck- ets to tubing for gathering,producers can reduce the cost Of syrup-making by 40 percent. Thus, by clinging to the anti- quated hand-gathering methods for sap collection, most Lower Peninsula producers ignore the potential to reduce operating costs. Not all Lower Peninsula producers confine their tap- ping tO personally-owned forest lands. Rather, 48 percent of those sampled in the southern counties and 39 percent in the northern region reported some tapping on other owner— ships. For the entire Peninsula, 44 percent Of the Opera- tions gather sap from neighboring properties (Table 24). But while a large proportion of producers tap on lands they do not own, only 22 percent Of the tapholes installed in the southern region in 1965 and 36 percent in the northern half 8These estimates are based on the size of Operations reported earlier. Since the working day length varies so greatly between and within Operations, the actual man-hours were not determined. 75 Table 24. Sap production on other than producer—Owned forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965a Proportion of Region Producers total tapholes PercenE: Percent Northern half Of Peninsula 39 36 Southern half of Peninsula 48 22 Entire Lower Peninsula 44 30 aSee Appendix 21. 76 were placed Off producer-owned lands. For the entire Penin- sula, about 30 percent of the resource used for sap produc— tion by the commercial industry is not personally owned (Table 24 and Appendix 21). Most Of the enterprises within Michigan's Lower Peninsula integrate their tapping with sap processing. Occasionally producers get some low-grade product that can be sold only in bulk quantities as commercial-grade syrup. Frequently this inferior syrup results from processing low- grade sap at season's end. Nevertheless, by continuing Operation each year as long as possible and selling the lower grade syrup in bulk quantities, producers can increase their annual production at no additional fixed costs and help minimize the annual overhead per unit of product. Only 19 percent Of the producers in the Lower Penin- sula take advantage Of the market for commercial-grade syrup. By regions, just 14 percent of producers interviewed in the southern counties and 27 percent in the north sell commer- cial-grade products. Sixty—six percent Of all producers explained that pressures from more important spring farm work required terminating operations before the sap and syrup became low quality at season's end. Others believed that because of the labor involved and the lower sale price realized for the commercial-grade product, it would not pay to extend the season for this purpose. Still others did not wish to bother with handling and marketing the lower—grade 77 syrup. These attitudes may reflect the inefficient methods commonly used throughout the industry. While about one—fifth Of the maple syrup enterprises in the Lower Peninsula sell some commercial—grade syrup, the bulk of Michigan maple products are sold for table use. To protect the consumer, Michigan health laws require that pro- ducers maintain sanitary facilities and working conditions in the saphouse (Appendix 4). However, most producers have not complied with the provisions Of the laws. To illustrate, during the course Of field work, saphouses used by 34 enter— prises were evaluated according tO the criteria given in Appendix 4. Fifty-eight percent Of those examined failed to meet the minimum requirements, including 41 percent Of the saphouses in the northern counties and 71 percent in the south. These sub-standard plants processed the sap collect- ed from 57 percent of the tapholes installed in 1965 by the producers sampled. In both regions, this non-compliance occurs commonly, but not entirely, with producers who plan to terminate production soon. The general failure to comply with Michigan Health laws reflects both a carelessness by producers and an appar- ent laxity or absence of State inspection. The fact that a large proportion Of producers have not invested sufficient capital in past years to keep their saphouses in a condition safe for food processing may be a reflection Of low profits within the industry. 78 The Tappable Resource 9g Producer— Owned Lands and Its Use for SangrOduction Maple sap and syrup producers in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula own an average of 24 tappable acres each, containing approximately 1,802 tapholes. In the southern half Of the Peninsula the average usable area owned per producer is only 9 acres, and contains about 555 tap— holes. The inventory Of these producer-owned lands revealed great variation in the nature and condition Of the producer- Owned forest from one property to another, and within owner— ships. Although differences in stand characteristics were noted between the northern and southern regions, the great variability encountered rendered them statistically non- significant (Table 25). Producers throughout the Lower Peninsula do not completely and properly utilize the resource available on their lands. Rather, only 17 percent Of the Operations sampled in the southern countries, and none in the north, use their resource to best advantage. On an average, for current tapping Operations producers utilize just 75 percent Of the total tapholes they own (Table 26). Within the northern 33 counties, 61 percent of the commercial industry uses less than the full capacity Of its lands. The remaining 39 percent taps too heavily. Only three-fourths Of the producer owned areas and 69 percent of the available tapholes were tapped in 1965. Still, 76 79 Table 25. The nature Of producer—owned sugar maple resources in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965 Region Resource b characteristic Northern half Southern half Difference Basal area per acre, sq.ft.a 102 95 ns Basal area per acre in sugar maple, sq.ft. 76 58 ns Sugar maple per acre, numbera 193 61 ns Average d.b.h. sugar maple, inches 14.5 17.9 ns Tappable sugar maple per acre, number 55 38 ns Area available to tap, acresa -24.4 9.3 * Tapholes per acre, number 69.5 50.2 ns Total tapholes available, numbera 1,802 555 * aTests showed the variances tO be non—homogeneous. Thus, a t—test approximation was used to test the difference in the manner recommended by Dixon and Massey (1957), p. 124. ns - non-significantdifference; * - significant difference at the 95 percent level. 80 Table 26. Use Of the available sugar maple resource on producer-owned lands in Michigan's Lower Penin- sula, 1965 Region Northern Southern Entire half half Peninsula Area available . . . Acres 24.4 9.3 .. Area tapped. . . . . Acres 15.1 9.2 .. Tapholes used . . Percent 69 83 75 Producers making proper use Of their resource . . . . . Percent 0 17 .. Producers using less than the full potential of their resouce . . Percent 61 70 66 Producers overtapping their resource . . Percent 39 13 .. aWeighted averages baSed on the proportions Of tap- holes and producers reported for each half Of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 81 percent of the sampled producers excessively used some por— tion of their woodlands, primarily because they tapped trees tOO small for production or because they placed two tapholes in trees suited for just one. For the northern region, the incomplete resource noted above results primarily from the producers' failuretx>tap the entire area they own. Producers within the southern half of the Lower Pen- insula tap almost all the suitable forest area they own. However, 70 percent Of the present operations do not use all of their personally-owned resource. Collectively, in 1965, southern producers installed only 83 percent Of the total tapholes possible within their forests, primarily because they failed tO put as many tapholes as possible in the larger trees they own. In l965,many40taphole trees sup- ported just 2 buckets. Surprisingly, 73 percent Of producers in the south- ern counties and 33 percent Of those in the north who failed to utilize all their personally-owned resource also reported tapping on other ownerships. Although 60 percent Of pro- ducers in the southern region who tapped neighboring lands claim they also exhausted the potential Of their own for- ests, inventory data collected on their forest lands revealed they could have installed more tapholes there than they did in 1965. While on the one hand the high use Of tapholes on other ownerships suggests that producers recognize a poten— tial tO eXpand tapping through the use Of lands they do not 82 own, the simultaneous incomplete use Of their own resources suggests that many producers fail to understand the full potential Of their own woodlands. By placing 30 percent Of their tapping on properties owned by someone else, producers ignore a chance to reduce Operating costs by confining pro- duction to a smaller area and eliminating any rental costs. 83 The Prospects and Potential for Tapping ig_Michigan's Lower Peninsula by 1975 Prospects for Future Production Plans for future activity in the Lower Peninsula commercial industry indicate that there will be a slight increase in maple sap production by 1975. About 43 percent of all Operators hope to maintain production at the present level for another 10 years, and 22 percent plan to increase tapping. But 35 percent Of the present commercial enter- prises will cease production by 1975. Those terminating production account for 26 percent Of present commercial resource use (Table 27). Producers who plan to terminate Operations give somewhat similar reasons for their action: (1) advancing age, (2) shortage Of labor at wages they can pay, and (3) lack of adequate profit from past operation. Former pro- ducers, also encountered in the course of field work, who terminated operations in recent years cited these same reasons for their action. The three reasons producers give for terminating their operations appear interrelated, and are amplified by earlier discussions about producer characteristics. It seems that as producers grow Older they become dissatisfied with the physical work involved with collecting and hauling sap. Thus, they attempt to hire laborers for the work. 84 Table 27. Tapping planned by the maple syrup industry in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965-1975 Region Northern Southern Entire Future activity half half Peninsula Increase planned: Producers . . . Percent 22 22 22 . . . Number 75 104 179 Tapholes . . . Percent 19 26 22 . . . Number 39,176 43,298 82,474 NO change planned: Producers . . . Percent 48 39 43 . . . Number 163 183 346 Tapholes . . . Percent 62 40 52 . . . Number 127,838 66,612 194,450 Termination planned: Producers . . . Percent 30 39 35 . . . Number 102 183 285 Tapholes . . . Percent 19 34 26 . . . Number 39,176 56,621 95,797 aWeighted averages based on the proportions Of tap— holes and producers reported for each half of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 85 But because Of the inefficiency in their Operations, the high fixed costs associated with their methods, and their desire for profits from the work, producers Offer only a low wage. The available labor refuses to work for such low pay, and appears in short supply. With a higher wage, the needed laborers would probably be available, but the profit margin would diminish to an unacceptable level. SO, production becomes physically and financially unattractive, and many producers terminate Operation. That 31 percent Of producers in the north and 36 percent in the south hope to increase their tapping by 1975, however, Offers a bright prospect for the future. If plans materialize, the average number Of tapholes used per enter- prise will increase to 2,717 in the northern counties and to 896 in the south. This will spread the fixed costs over a larger volume of production and improve the chances for profits as suggested by Willits (1965). Although the anticipated cessation by about one— third Of the commercial industry promises a noticeable effect on future tapping, increases planned by remaining enterprises will Offset the losses. While in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula commercial tapping by existing Operations will decline six percent, a nine percent increase in the northern counties will compensate for the loss (Table 28). 86 Table 28. Anticipated resource use for sap production in 1975 by enterprises active in Michigan's Lower Peninsula in 1965 Tapholesa Expected Future Future total Region now used change tapholes by region Number Percent Number Percent Northern half 206,190 + 9 224,747 59 Southern half 166,531 - 6 156,539 41 Lower Peninsula 372,721 + 2b 381,286 100 aSource: Tables 2 and 21. bA weighted average based on the number Of tap- holes and producers reported for each half of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 87 Some new commercial operations will start production by 1975 and add new tapping. But records indicate that the number Of tapholes added annually by new businesses has diminished in recent years. For example, Of the operations sampled, those established between 1955 and 1960 accounted for 26 percent Of commercial use in 19600 But the Opera— tions initiated between 1960 and 1965 utilized only 17 per— cent Of the commercial tapholes in 1965. Furthermore, 93 percent Of tapping by new enterprises within the past 5 years was confined tO the northern 33 counties. If these trends continue, enterprises established after 1965 will locate primarily in the northern region and account for only 7 to 10 percent Of total tapping in 1975. More specifically, new Operations will account for 12 percent Of tapping in the northern region and 3 percent in the south by 1975. Considering both the plans Of the present industry and the additions by new enterprises, tapping by 1975 will be approximately 383,350 tapholes. Fifty-nine percent Of these will be installed in the northern 33 counties. This represents a continued shift northward in the concentration Of tapping within the Lower Peninsula, maintaining the 1959- 1964 trend (Table 23). For the entire Lower Peninsula tap- ping will increase by 3 percent above the level noted for 1964 (Table 29). 88 .H000Q .mCmCmO .esm .0.Dv meSDQsoHe0¢ Ho mCmCmU 000H er CH wHCmCHCmm emBOH mQu mo 0HwQ Qowm eom omeeomme meOQmwu 0Cw memosooem Ho memQESC er Co 0mmwQ mmmwem>w omenonB mew wHCmCHCmm emBOH er e00 mmmqumoemm Q .eCmoemm Q.0 CwQe mmme 00H 000.000 0 + ... QN + QNO.N00 stmCHCmm Q emBOH Q0 000.00H 0 I w... 0 I Q00.00H MHwQ CeerCom 00 000.0NN 0H + Q + 0 + 00Q.00N 0HwQ CemQueoz oCmoemm emQECZ eCmoemm QCmoemm QCmoemm emQECZ COHmme 0Q mmHOQmwQ 000H 0Q mmmHememQCm meQmCUCH 000H .omms COHmmm mmHOQmwQ mesoom mmaQo BmC 0Q mCHemem meOQmwB medudm HwDOB mCOHuH00< hQ mmaQO 000H .wQCmCHCmm emBOH m_Cw0HQoHE CH omeommxm 0CHmmwQ Hwooe .0N mHQwB 89 While these data outline the prospects for produc— tion by 1975, the plans for tapping, alone, do not portray the entire character of future activity. Thirty—five per— cent Of the syrup Operators sampled in the north half Of the Peninsula and 33 percent in the south who plan to continue production to 1975 also hope to purchase some sap to supple- ment their own tapping. In addition, 2 producers among the 17 contacted in the north (12 percent) and 1 Of the 12 in the south (8 percent) want to abandon sap processing and convert to sap selling. These facts suggest that some de- gree of centralization will take place within the Lower Peninsula, creating at least a small market for sap sale. Although the forecast presented above predicts growth in the maple syrup industry, it is based on plans that may or may not come to fruition. The sub—standard con— dition Of nearly half the saphouses within the Lower Penin- sula may constitute a major deterrent to future production. These numerous sub-standard plants were able to continue Operation in past years because saphouse inspection was inadequate and ineffective. But if and when health laws are enforced, production within the Lower Peninsula could be seriously curtailed. At the present time 71 percent Of the processing plants used for maple syrup production in the southern 35 counties, including 60 percent Of those that will be in 90 Operation in future years, fail to meet the minimum require— ments shown in Appendix 4. Likewise, 41 percent Of the sap- houses in the northern region, including 38 percent Of the ones counted on for future production, face certain closure if the health laws are strictly enforced (Table 30). Clos- ing these sub—standard processing plants should reduce tapping planned for 1975 by 42 percent, dropping resource use within the Lower Peninsula to 222,300 tapholes located primarily within the northern 33 counties. At least one other factor may also strongly influ- ence the chances for production plans to materialize. It was pointed out earlier that most enterprises within the Lower Peninsula appear to incur high operating costs because of the labor-demanding techniques used for sap production. Furthermore, nearly half Of the producers probably realize low profits due to the smallness of their Operation. As a result Of these inefficiencies within the present industry, many producers who wish to continue production may be forced out Of business in future years by rising costs and shortages of low-cost labor. Capacity 2£_Producer~0wned Resources Eg_Support Future Operations The tappable resource on producer—owned lands is dynamic. Within the next 10 years it will increase in direct proportion to the growth Of the tappable stands owned. 91 Table 30. Proportion of Lower Peninsula maple saphouses that fail to meet minimum standards of sanita- tion, 1965a Region Northern Southern Lower Condition half half Peninsula Percent Percent Percent Unsanitary saphouses 41 71 58 Unsanitary saphouses, future production planned 38 60 48 Present tapholes sup— plying unsanitary saphouses 30 76 57 Planned future tapholes supplying unsanitary saphouses 13 78 42 aBased on Observation Of 34 saphouses at 45 maple syrup Operations, 1965. bWeighted averages based on the proportion Of tap- holes and producers reported for each half of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 92 Total accretion eXpected for each prOperty will depend upon the present size and structure Of the tappable resource owned and upon the growth Of individual sugar maple trees in these forests. Sugar maple diameter growth estimates generated by regression analysis from Forest Survey increment boring data (Figure 7 and Appendix 22) were applied to inventory records for producer-owned forests to furnish estimates of the size of each producer's resource in 1975.9 Because Of differences in the nature and structure Of tappable reserves from owner- ship to ownership, estimates Of accretion varied greatly among properties. For example, in the southern counties tap- hole growth will range from 5 to 24 per acre between 1965 and 1975, with a mean increment Of 11.7 tapholes per acre for the lO—year period. For the northern half Of the Penin- sula, data indicate that there will be an increase Of 6 to 24 tapholes per acre, with a mean growth Of 20.6 per acre for the 10 years. These changes represent an average accre— tion Of 1 taphole per acre per year for the southern region, and 3 tapholes per acre per year in the north. The bulk Of additions will come from ingrowth or from growth of trees that now support a single taphole (Table 31). Because they contain a considerable number Of small trees that will reach 9All sugar maple sampled in 1965 were assumed to live for another 10 years. 93 Figure 7. Ten-year diameter growth for sugar maple in Michigan's Lower Peninsula (shaded areas define limits Of the data). 94 Basal can 23 (sq. ft.) LI A .12: v 12 ...-39.0 13 3.2.5.1 =30 .. sen 04 II 20 22 24 14 II 12 In ) h D.h.h. 95 Table 31. Contribution to future available tapholes from growth by different size trees on producer-owned forest lands in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965— 1975 Future taphole growth Northern half Southern half Tree size class Of Peninsula of Peninsula Inches Percent Percent Less than 9.5 56 37 9.5-14.9 29 37 15.0-19.9 l3 l9 20.0-24.9 2 7 Total 100 100 96 tappable size within the next 10 years, producer-owned stands in the northern counties Offer the greatest potential for future growth. Table 32 summarizes the growth expected for average producer-owned resources within the Lower Peninsula. In essence, by l975,producers can eXpect a 23 percent increase within the southern counties and a 33 percent growth in the north. Within the next 10 years, producer-owned resources in the southern region will increase by an average Of 290 tapholes, while those in the northern half Of the Peninsula will add an average Of 810 new tapholes. Despite the growth expected within the next 10 years, the tappable resources on producer-owned lands will be suffi- cient to accommodate tapping planned by only 44 percent Of the operators in the northern counties and 43 percent Of those in the south (Table 33). TO satisfy their sap require— ments, 56 percent Of the producers planning to continue tap— ping in the future will need to rely upon tapholes installed on land owned by someone else. The use of non-industry owned resources will include 37 percent of tapping planned for the northern region and 27 percent of taphole use expect- ed in the south. If these plans materialize, tapping on non- producer owned forest lands will increase by 3 percent in the next 10 years to about 125,400 tapholes. 97 ... 00N 0Q0 emQECZ mmHu Iemmoem omCBOIemosooem mowem>w Co COHemeoow Qweoe 0.0H.H.N.0H 0.0 H.0.QQ 0.0 H.0.0N emQEDZ meow emm QDBOem mQOQmwB 0N H.0N 0Q H.0N 0H + 00 HCmoemm omuommxm mmwmeoCH ... 000 H.000 0H0.0 H.0Q0.N emQESZ 000H CH mHQwHHw>w mmHOQmwB ... 000 N00.Q emQESZ mHQwHHw>w wHeCmmmem mmHOQmwB wQCmCHCmm HHwQ CemQusom MHwQ Ceereoz QQBOem mQOQmwB emBOH Conmm 000HI000Q .wHSmCHCmm em3OH m_Cw0HQoH2 CHQHHB monQ omCBOIemosooem Co mQQwHHw>w mmoeCOmme HwHoemEEoo me CH mmwmeoCH ewmmICmB .N0 mQQwB 98 Table 33. Capacity of producer-owned resources to support future tapping operations in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1975 Operations that can meet needs on their Planned tapholes that Region own land, 1975 must be rented, 1975 Percent Percent Number Northern half 44 37 83,156 Southern half 43 27 42,266 Lower. a Peninsula 44 33 125,422 aWeighted averages based on the proportions Of tap- holes and producers reported for each half of the Lower Peninsula in the 1964 Census Of Agriculture (U.S. Bur. Census, 1966). 99 Opportunities for Additional Tapping .12 the Spgar Maple Resource g; Michigan's Lower Peninsula The maple syrup industry presently uses less than 2 percent Of the 22.3 million tapholes estimated for the Lower Peninsula from the 1947-1949 Forest Survey data. By 1975, tapping will increase slightly. Still, within the next 10 years the industry will continue to use less than 2 percent Of the resources available. The potential for commercial tapping in excess of production planned by the present industry may appear tO be practically unlimited. However, certain factors make por— tions Of the Peninsula poorly suited and unattractive for investment in a large, permanent central evaporating facil— ity. Quite important in this respect is the threat Of urban sprawl. While forest lands in the 18 urban fringe counties (Figure 8) could support extensive commercial tapping (Table 34), the pressures Of urbanization, reversion Of woodlands to non—forest uses, and purposes of ownership identified by Schallau (1962) make the urban fringe area undesirable as a site for long-term investment in a primary forest industry like maple sap processing. Even though some small, isolated maple syrup Operations may continue there into the future, the urban fringe should be discounted as a locality suited for much eXpansion by present Operations or for addition Of new processing plants. Table 35 shows the tapholes available 100 Figure 8. Counties and regions of Michigan's Lower Peninsula suited for commercial sap production serving a central evaporator plant (excluding the urban fringe and the counties with less than 1,000 acres suited for tapping with sap delivery to an evapor— ator plant). 101 I - Urban fringe 2%;z- Area with less than 1,000 / acres of northern hardwoods 3.3- Acres of northern hardwoods in the county 102 .COHuwQSQwQ mHQu CH 0m05HoCH QOC mH m0CHeH CwQeD mQQ CH enmeom 0CHQmwmI0CHH0mmm mo mmeow 000.HN QwCoHeHoow de 000.00 000.00 000.0NH 00Q.00H mmnem Hee H0m.mm 0N0.00 000.00 000.00 emnsensmm mmeme mean 00m.0 0H0.0Q 0H0.00 000.00 emnsH03Mm QQmsm neecmm 00N.~ moo.m ~0m.0H 000.00 emnseemeom emsoq mem.00 000.00 000.0QQ 000.00Q mmnem HH¢ H00.0m 000.00 N00.00 000.00 emnseuzmm mmenq 000.0 www.me amm.mm 000.00 emneHuzmm Hemsm new: 00m.m 000.0 «00.NQ 000.0N emnseomHom nemnosom men moo.H 000.0 000.0 nmnem Hem 00 0N0 mom.H oom.Q emnsensmn mmeme 00H 00N «00.H 000.N emnseosmm QQmsm Heme ... ... ooe.H oo0.~ emnseumeom nemnueoz mmeo4 mmeom mmeofi mmeofi mmHHE 0 mUHmowoe omuomQQoo Qmmeom 00030er mmeo mNHm Conmm 0mem>HQmo oHom memQ3 ommmmooem CeereOC HwQOB onum ”me new man we COHuosooem mwm e00 omuHsm wmed w000HI000H .stmCHCmm em3OH m.Cw0HQon mo mmCHem CwQes er CH omuwooH mooosoer CeereOC Ho wmew COHuosooem mwm QwHoemEEoo .00 mQQwB 103 Table 35. Potentially available tapholes suited for commer— cial sap production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1947-1949 Tapholes suited for production if the sap is: Processed where Sold Delivered Resource collected roadside 5 miles Tapholes Tapholes Tapholes;— Total Less urban fringe Outside urban fringe Total Less urban fringe Outside urban fringe (Northern half of the Lower Peninsula) 9,626,789 4,075,113 2,671,842 130,879 55,330 15,120 9,495,910 4,019,783 2,656,722 (Southern half of the Lower Peninsula) 11,032,520 8,829,194 6,918,094 5,537,166 4,391,285 3,423,462 5,495,354 4,437,909 3,494,632 Total Less urban fringe Outside urban fringe (Lower Peninsula) 20,659,309 12,904,307 9,589,936 5,704,045 4,446,615 3,438,582 14,955,264 8,457,692 6,151,354 104 within the Lower Peninsula after excluding the urban fringe forests. Caution is advised relative to the usefulness of the area along the boundaries of the urban fringe within the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Ionia, Eaton, Van- Buren and Cass Counties already support over 75 persons per square mile, and their populations will likely increase. Future encroachment by the swelling population centers should further restrict their use for forest production and tapping. Long-term investment in sap processing facilities within this region might be unwise. Beyond the effects of urbanism, the potential of the Lower Peninsula to support an industry of central evaporator plants is restricted by other factors. In each of 18 other counties, forming an L-shaped region along the southern por- tion of the northern 33 counties (Figure 8), there are less than 600 acres of northern hardwood forest suited for tapping by operations that require delivery of sap to a central evap— orator plant (Appendix 20)° Although many woodland owners in this region may wish to tap, the resource available could not adequately support large centralized plants. Figure 8 portrays the remaining three blocks of counties which offer some utility as locations for central evaporator enterprises. However, data discussed earlier relative to the characteristics of Lower Peninsula forest 105 owners give grounds for skepticism about the prospects that the entire resource within these areas might be used for tapping. To be prospective sap producers, landowners should live near the site of their forest holdings and have an interest in forest production. Studies by Schallau (1961, 1962, 1964, 1965), Yoho (1956), and Yoho et al. (1957), showed that only 38 percent of the total forest area in the Peninsula is controlled by resident owners, and nearly half of the private landowners have no interest in forest produc- tion. Farm and part-time farm owners best fill the qualifi- cations for potential sap producers. They mostly live at the site of their forests, and they have good interest in forest production. Historically, these persons have dom— inated the maple syrup industry. Within the southern por- tion of the Peninsula farm owners who have an interest in forest production control about 30 percent of the northern hardwood area. In the northern region, they own about 41 percent of the northern hardwood forests (Table 36). At least one other factor has some influence on the attractiveness of the different regions for the sites of new central evaporator plants. In the southern region of the Lower Peninsula, farm forests are small in size and highly fragmented (Table 5), and the northern hardwood forest cover is Sparse and widely dispersed (Figure 4). This in itself does not render the region useless for largeqscale sap 106 Table 36. Proportion of northern hardwood forests poten- tially available for owner-operated sap production enterprises on farm-owned landsa Region Northern Southern half half Total forest area in farm forests . . . . Percent 30 40 Total ownerships in farms. . . . . . . . Percent 51 49 Total northern hard— woods in farm ownerships . . . . . Percent 46 49 Farm forest area in— tended for forest production . . . . . Percent 89 62 Total northern hard- wood area poten- tially available for tapping on farm for— ests intended for forest production . Percent 41 30 aSee Table 5. bComputed on the assumption that farm owners hold the same proportion of northern hardwood area as they con- trol of the total commercial forest area. CA weighted average for full-time and part-time farmers combined. 107 production. But in order to meet their production needs, managers of large evaporator plants would need to depend upon tapping by a great number of producers scattered over a rather large hinterland. Procurement in the southern counties would be difficult. To the north, especially in the 15 northern-most counties, the northern hardwood forests are fairly contiguous, and the forest cover is reasonably dense (Figure 4). Farm ownerships average over 100 acres in size (Table 5). As a result, the supply area for a central evaporator plant would be much smaller than needed in the southern region, and procurement would be from fewer producers. After considering the ownership patterns and pur- poses, the resource concentration, and the pressures of urbanism, the 15 counties in the northern—most part of the Lower Peninsula appear best suited for a new industry of central evaporator plants. Within this north—tip region, Emmet, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Otsego, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Wexford, Kalkaska, Crawford, and Manistee Counties provide areas with the greatest concentra— tion of usable northern hardwoods. In these counties prob— ably could be found gfixxi locations for new central evap— orator plants. Figure 9 identifies the specific region of the Lower Peninsula that appears best suited for a new industry of central evaporator plants. This lZ-county area contains 108 Figure 9. Region of the Lower Peninsula best suited for sites of new central evaporator plants that require sap delivery. 109 RISOUI 'J'tl' ”aka/'25:— rano'I oscooa Taro!“ ft! to Iul-J’Jacun 11°0me OCEWIA' _I-IL 3+3 MA30~ I ‘AAI IO sccou FLI“! - It“. 4309 Z _ ARIZMC . I ' 054V co- IVA ~r~Aco-_l- MtcosrA 1.5.4 0:11 A I M704 AND I 0 - L.— . _. . L— SAG/“4w wasntot Mow fr 4 L U Gm r/or L ' .‘INr ___IG(N[JI( I CLIUYON SumnASSff .'rCLAIR h - OAKLAND Iuwa v I_J:A 'o/v ”yawn—1: ..TV—LIWJTO CTL‘ ”DUN Iwmy FAertAA WV] :v‘uvt' aauvc u u (.3 0A.; 1‘ ILINA th’ Inmor- -°——L ._L__ NU'O rumi- 7 ”~43: - Area best suited to supply a central evaporator industry 110 about 2 million tapholes suited for tapping to support cen- tral evaporator plants requiring sap delivery (Table 37). In 1964, producers within the region used only 155,655 tap- holes, less than 8 percent of the total available. Within the lZ-county region recommended for the location of new central evaporator plants, farm forests intended for forest production could provide about 820,000 tapholes in stands that could be tapped if the sap is delivered to a central evaporator plant. This potentially available farm resource is sufficient to support the addi- tion of about 12 large evaporator plants of the kind de- scribed by Pasto and Taylor (1962), with each plant process- ing sap from approximately 66,000 tapholes. 111 .ON mHQme Eouw UmCHmqu mHmB mump mconoum .mH mHnme cH c305m mmum mHQMms mo mommucmoumm mzu so comma mump mmu¢m Hmo.mmo.m Hmuoe mmm.hn omm.©m omm oom.m 0NH mun.m¢ mHm whomxmz www.mmm mow.0H mom 0mm.oH mmm oom.mmH oom.~ ommmuo 6mm.m0H omh.mm own wom.¢H mmm omm.mm 0mm mmuchmz me.omm mom.on mum.H owm.mm 0mm ooo.ooH oom.H smcmHmmq mm¢.OOH 00H.H¢ wow mm0.0H wnH oom.m¢ 0mm mxmmmex Hom.omH mmm.mm mmn moo.Hm mwm oom.m¢ 0mm mmum>mue pamno moo.m¢~ 0mm.©m 0mm mo>.¢m om¢ mnn.©mH mHm.m umEEm ©m¢.MH ... ... ©m¢.m Nv omo.HH omH Unomzmuo mme.¢mm 4mm.HH qmm omo.mm omm msa.oom mmm.m cmmmonmco mwm.mmH www.mm mow ovm.hm oww mn©.©OH mmm.H xHo>mHHan ooH.Hom NOH.NOH Noo.~ moH.mv own omm.mm one mHNcmm ooo.on ow>.mm own omm.mm com ooo.mmm oom.m EHuucm quEsz Honesz mmuu< HmQEdz mmuofi quEfiZ mmuum mmHonmmu Hmuoe mmHonmms mmnm mmHosmme mmud mmHonmme mmu4 wucsou quEHHBMm mmumq quEHHBMm HHmEm mpcmum mHom mmmm UmHm>HHmp com: maHhHmH muumsch Houmuomm>m Hmnucmo m hHmmSm Op pmpHdm ummnm mmHucsoo MHSmchmm umzoq cumummBQuuoc NH map cH mHQmHHm>m mmHostB .nm mHQme SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The Northern Hardwood Forest Resource Northern hardwood forests, which contain sugar maple as a chief component, are dispersed throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula, but are mostly concentrated within the northern 33 counties. In this northern region, pole-size stands predominate, and stands with an average diameter of 11 inches or more account for only 39 percent of the north- ern hardwood area. Within the southern counties where northern hardwoods occur less abundantly, 70 percent of the stands are sawtimber size. These southern sawtimber forests account for about two-thirds of the total northern hardwood forest acreage with an average stand diameter of 11 inches or more. Northern hardwood stands of the Lower Peninsula are primarily uneven-aged. Sugar maple comprises 20 to 50 per- cent of the total basal area per acre. In the southern region the species is of greatest importance in sawtimber stands. But in the north, sugar maple occurs most abundant- ly in pole—size stands. Consequently, sugar maple is most common in the types of stands that form the greatest propor— tion of the northern hardwood area within the different regions. 112 113 Rather low levels of taphole stocking suffice for commercial tapping by integrated sap—syrup operations. Under these conditions, the bulk of the northern hardwood area, including half of the poletimber, contains ample tap— holes to justify commercial tapping° But when sap must be transported to a central evaporator plant, the minimum stock- ing required for break-even operation rises to a high level. Under these circumstances only 14 percent of all northern hardwood stands in the Lower Peninsula provide sufficient tapholes per acre to permit profitable tapping. Despite previous optimism relative to the ease of sap procurement by central evaporator plants, unless well stocked stands prevail near the plant location, procurement may be diffi- cult. While some individual areas in the Peninsula are poorly suited for large-scale commercial tapping, the north- ern hardwood forests on the whole provide a vast commercial resource that could easily support a maple syrup industry much larger than at present. Forest Survey data show that in 1950, the Peninsula contained about 21 million tapholes suited for tapping associated with integrated sap-syrup oper- ations, 13 million usable for tapping and roadside sale of sap, and about 10 million tapholes suited for sap production and delivery to a central evaporator plant. The bulk of tapholes suited for each of these uses were located within stands of the southern 35 counties. 114 The Maple §yrup Industry The maple syrup industry which draws upon the tap— pable resources of the Lower Peninsula is comprised of many old and small businesses that maintain inefficient operaw tions hampered by their antiquated production methods. The bulk of producers invest great amounts of labor for sap gathering. In addition, 40 percent of the present commer- cial enterprises appear submarginal due to their small size. Throughout the industry, producers need to take drastic measures to revolutionize their equipment and methods of operation. Little difference was noted between the sugar maple stands on producer-owned lands in the two halves of the Peninsula, except that total producer-owned resources in the northern region are about three times larger than those in the south. Neither in the north nor in the south do pro- ducers fully utilize the tapholes available in their forests. Sixty-six percent of present operations could immediately eXpand tapping on their own lands. Still, about 44 percent of all enterprises tap on other ownerships, placing some 30 percent of the tapholes used in 1965 on lands owned by some- one else. These facts suggest additional inefficiency in many operations. 115 More than half the maple sap collected in the Lower Peninsula is processed in saphouses that fail to meet mini— mum sanitary conditions required by Michigan health laws. Apparently there has been inadequate inspection and enforce— ment of these requirements in past years. To remedy this situation the State could amend the health laws to require all producers to register with the State Health Department. This would provide the means to locate processing plants for inspection. Also, the law should require annual inspection of all saphouses and issuance of an annual permit as a pre- requisite to the sale of products. Although these two mea- sures might seriously curtail production of maple syrup in the Peninsula, they would quickly force adherence to accept— able sanitary standards for purity in Michigan maple syrup. 116 Outlook for the Future While the number of enterprises decreased in recent years, overall tapping increased slightly between 1960 and 1964, reversing the declining trend noted for earlier years. This increase, however, occurred only because eXpansion in the northern counties offset production declines within the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. These trends appear certain to continue. Data indi— cate that by 1975, the total number of syrup enterprises within the Lower Peninsula will decrease by 35 percent. Pro- duction will continue to decline within the southern region. However, eXpanded tapping by northern producers plus some additions by new enterprises there will offset the losses. For 1975, maple sap production in the Lower Peninsula is projected to increase by 3 percent and to continue concen— trating within the northern region. In spite of this in- crease the widescale termination planned in both regions makes maple syrup manufacture seem destined to further de— cline as a farm enterprise within the Lower Peninsula. In retrospect, the whole question of production potential seems a bit academic. Despite the increase noted in the past few years and the added tapping planned for the future, the level of sap production within the Lower Penin— sula drifts further and further away from the potential of the resource. Producers now utilize only 75 percent of 117 their personally owned resource and but a fraction of the total available. Taphole accretion has and will continue to add new reserves to the total resource at the rate of about one taphole per acre per year in the southern counties and three tapholes per acre per year in the northern region. Even though by 1975 the producer-owned resource will accom— modate only 68 percent of planned tapping, and though 57 percent of the enterprises will collectively use about 125,000 tapholes on lands they do not own, availability of resources will not limit production. Despite the opinion offered by earlier writers who believe that insufficient forest resources contributed to past declines within the industry, Forest Survey data clearly show that the resource has been more than ample to accommodate production in recent years, and will continue to exceed production levels planned for 1975. Although many producers wish to increase tapping within the next 10 years, two major obstacles may hinder future production and prevent plans from coming to fruition. First, at least half of the present saphouses that will con— tinue to be used until 1975 are unsanitary. Proper enforce- ment of Michigan health laws would bring certain closure of these installations, and could reduce production to about 222,000 tapholes. Secondly, unless producers take advantage of the efficiency of modern, automated equipment, the rising costs of labor will likely reduce the profit margin, and 118 diminish the financial incentive for production in many enterprises. In essence, inadequate facilities and equip- ment, coupled with economic factors, will limit production in future years. Only if producers improve their methods by adopting new techniques will they be able to continue their Operations and occupy a competive position with other busi- nesses for the use of capital, labor, and land. The hope to greatly increase syrup production in Michigan's Lower Peninsula does not appear to rest with the present industry. Neither does it depend upon added forest resources or the discovery of new production techniques. Rather, the hope lies with developing an industry that will use available equipment and methods. The best chance to stimulate sap production within the Peninsula may rest with the use of plastic tube systems for collecting the sap, and with introducing a new industry of central evaporator plants that will purchase the sap gathered by independent sapping enterprises. Within the Lower Peninsula, the concentration of northern hardwood forests, the purposes of forest ownership, and freedom from urban sprawl in the 12 northern-tip counties make that region best suited for such a new industry. Resources there are adequate to accommodate the addition of 12 central evap— orator plants that require sap delivery. 119 Recommendations for Future Research The smallness of the Lower Peninsula maple syrup industry and its minor effect on the state's economy raise serious question about investing much effort and resources into future maple sap and syrup investigations. On the other hand, some planners look to the maple industry as a means to actively stimulate Michigan's rural economy. Justification for future research into maple sap and syrup production depends upon weighing the relative merits of these two arguments. However, before the potential effect on Michigan's economy can be properly appraised, many fac- tors must be evaluated to provide a more complete picture of the economics of maple sap and syrup production. While modern techniques for sap production are generally considered to be more economical than older methods, the benefits of such new equipment and materials need to be determined by cost analysis and time studies. For example, tube systems should be compared with bucket methods to quantify the improvement in efficiency obtained by automating sap production. Furthermore, case studies and marginal analysis should be made to identify the size of operations required for profitable production and to esti- mate the net returns per acre that could be realized from modern sapping operations within the Lower Peninsula. 120 Detailed studies should also be made in the 12- county area singled out as the region best suited for locat- ing new central evaporator plants. These investigations should be designed to: (1) determine the receptiveness of landowners to opportunities for sap sale, (2) explore pur- chase arrangements which would insure sufficient sap sup— plies for large plants, (3) evaluate specific sites where plants might locate, (4) assess the potential effect of a centralized maple syrup industry on the economy of the region, and (5) examine marketing activities including pos- sible cooperative marketing procedures. LITERATURE CITED Anonymous. 1928. Growth of northern hardwoods after partial cut. Lake States For. EXpt. Sta., Tech. Note 6. 1961. Recommended procedures for the manufacturing of maple syrup. Foods and Standards Div., Mich. Dept. Agr., and Forestry Dept., Mich. State Univ., Mimeo., Revised August 1961. 1962. Let's talk about buying sap. Natl. Maple Syrup Digest l(2):6-7. Beers, T.W., and Miller, C.I. 1964. Point sampling: Research results, theory, and application. Purdue Univ., Agr. EXpt. Sta., Res. Bul. 786. Bell, R.D. 1955. Costs and returns in producing and marketing maple products. Cornell Univ., Dept. Agr. Econ., AE 1016. Braun, E.L. 1950. Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America. Hafner Pub. Co., N.Y. and London. Chapman, H.H., and Meyer, W.H. 1947. Forest Valuation. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., N.Y., Toronto, and London. Chase, C.H. 1953. Timber resources of the Muskegon—Saginaw Section, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey No. 5. , and Horn, A.G. 1950. Timber resources Southwestern Section, Lower Peninsula Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey No. 2. 121 122 Chase, C.H., and Horn, A.G.- 1955. Timber resources Cadillac Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey No. 6. 1956. Timber resources Baldwin Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. EXpt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey No. 8. Chittenden, A.K. 1923. Improvement of the farm woodlot. Mich. Agr. EXpt. Sta., Spec. Bul. 122. Davis, K.P. 1954. American Forest Management. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., N.Y., Toronto, and London. DenUyl,]D. 1962. The Central Region. Chapter 4, pp. 137-177, in J.W. Barrett, ed. Regional Silviculture of the United States. The Ronald Book Co., N.Y. Dixon, J.W., and Massey, F.J., Jr. 1957. Introduction to Statistical Analysis. McGraw— Hill Book Co., Inc., N.Y., Toronto, and London. Doppel, A.A. 1927. Diameter growth of hard maple. Jour. Forestry 25:989-997. Downs, A.A. 1946. Response to release of sugar maple, white oak, and yellow-poplar. Jour. Forestry 44:22—27. England, G.M., and Tompkins, E.H. 1956. Marketing Vermont's maple syrup. Vt. Agr. EXpt. Sta., Bul. 593. Essex, B.L., Chase, C.D., and Horn, A.G. 1955. Timber resources Southeastern Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey. Eyre, F.H., and Zillgitt, W.M. 1950. Size-class distribution in old-growth northern hardwoods twenty years after cutting. .Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Sta. Pap. 21. 123 Eyre, F.H., and Zillgitt, W.M. 1953. Partial cuttings in northern hardwoods in the Lake States: Twenty-two-year eXperimental ‘ results. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Tech. Bul. 1076. Findell, V.E., Pfeiffer, R.E., Horn, A.G., and Tubbs, C.H. 1960. Michigan's forest resources. Lake States For. EXpt. Sta., Sta. Pap. 82. Foulds, R.T., and Reed, F.A. 1962. Vermont's maple syrup and sugar industry. Northeastern Logger 10(10):12—15, 50-51. Frothingham, E.H. 1915. The northern hardwood forest; its composition, growth and management. U.S. Dept. Agr., Bul. 285. Gilbert, A.M., and Jensen, V.S. 1958. A management guide for northern hardwoods in New England. Northeastern For. EXpt. Sta., Sta. Pap. 112. Goodman, R.M. 1957. Silvical characteristics of sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Sta. Pap. 50. Hansen, H.L. 1962. The Lake States Region. Chapter 3, pp. 85—136, in J.W. Barrett, ed. Regional Silviculture of the United States. The Ronald Press Co., N.Y. Hovind, H.J., and Rieck, C.E. 1961. Basal area and point-sampling. Wis. Conserv. Dept., Tech. Bul. 23. Husch, B. 1963. Forest Mensuration and Statistics. The Ronald Press Co., N.Y. Illick, J.S., and Frontz, L. 1928. The beech-birch—maple forest type in Pennsylvania. Penn. Dept. For. and Waters, Bul. 46. Jensen, V.S. 1943. Suggestions for the management of northern hard- wood stands in the Northeast. Jour. Forestry 41(3):180-185. 124 Lamb, R. 1962. Handbook of tubing. 1962 Lamb Naturalflow Maple Sap Plastic Tube Gathering System. A.C. Lamb & Sons, Liverpool, N.Y. u.d. Naturalflow plastic tubing. An up-to-date method for gathering maple sap. A.C. Lamb & Sons, Liverpool, N.Y. Little, E.L. 1953. Check list of native and naturalized trees of the_ United States. U.S. Dept. Agr., Handbook 41. McIntyre, A.C. 1932. The maple products industry of Pennsylvania. Penn. State Coll., Sch. of Agr. and Expt. Sta., Bul. 280. Mears, R.P. 1962. A model central evaporator plant. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Ser., Rpt. of Proc., 5th Conf. on Maple Productsz4—8. Michigan Department of Agriculture 1965. Michigan agriculture statistics. Mich. Dept. Agr., June 1965. 1966. Michigan agriculture statistics. Mich. Dept. Agr., June 1966. Michigan State University 1962. Michigan economic charts. Bur. Bus. and Econ. Res., Grad. Sch. of Bus. Admin., Mich. State Univ. Moore, H.R., Anderson, W.R., and Baker, R.H. 1951. Ohio maple syrup . . . some factors influencing production. Ohio Agr. Expt. Sta., Res. Bul. 718. Morrow, R.R. 1961. Plastic tubing for maple sap. Farm Res. 27(2): 12-13. 1963. Vacuum pumping and tubing gather maple sap. Farm Res. 29(3):14. 125 Pasto, J.K., and Taylor, R.D. 1962. Economics of the central evaporator in maple syrup production. Penn. State Univ., Coll. Agr., Agr. Expt. Sta., Bul. 697. Peterson, T.A. 1962. Wisconsin central evaporator plants. Natl. Maple Syrup Digest 1(2):7. Quinney, D.N., Chase, C.D., and Horn, A.G. 1957a. Timber resources Mio Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey. 1957b. Timber resources North Tip Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey. Rapp, D.A., Chase, C.D., and Horn, A.G. 1957. Timber resources Gladwin Block, Lower Peninsula, Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Mich. For. Survey No. 10. Robbins, P.W. 1949. Production of maple sirup in Michigan. Mich. Agr. Expt. Sta., Circ. Bul. 213. 1950. Michigan's maple sirup industry. U.S. Dept. Agr., Eastern Regional Lab., Bur. Agr. and Ind. Chem., Agr. Res. Admin.,Proc. Conf. on Maple Products: 22—28. 1966. Unpublished data. Mich. Agr. Expt. Sta., Forestry Dept., Mich. State Univ. Schallau, C.H. 1961. An investigation of private forest landownership in the southeasternmost thirty-seven counties of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Ph.D. thesis, Mich. State Univ. 1962. Small forest ownership in the urban fringe area of Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Sta. Pap. 103. 126 Schallau, C.H. 1964. Forest owners and timber management in Michigan. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., For. Ser. Res. Pap. LS-g O 1965. Fragmentation, absentee ownership, and turnover of forest land in northern lower Michigan. Lake States For. EXpt. Sta., For. Ser. Res. Pap. LS-17. Snow, A.G. 1964. Maple sugaring and research. Jour. Forestry 62(2):83-88. Society of American Foresters 1954. Forest cover types of North America (Exclusive of Mexico). Soc. Am. For., Washington, D.C. 1958. Forestry Terminology. Soc. Am. For., Washington, D.C. Spurr, S.H. 1952. Forest Inventory. The Ronald Press Co., N.Y. Statistical Reporting Service 1962. Maple products sugar and syrup - trees tapped- production-dispositionapriceovalue by states, 1916-1959. U.S. Dept. Agr., Stat. Rept. Ser., Crop Rept. Bd., Stat. Bul. 313. 1966. Crop production. U.S. Dept. Agr., Stat. Rept. Ser., Crop Rept. Bd., CrPr 2-2(5-66). Underwood, J.C., and Willits, C.O. 1963. Research modernizes the maple industry. Food Technol. 17(11):42-46. U.S. Bureau of Census 1954. U.S. Census of agriculture 1954. Volume I, Counties and state economic areas; Part 6, Michigan. U.S. Gov. Print. Off., Washington, D.C. 1961. U.S. Census of agriculture: 1959. Volume I, Counties, Part 13 Michigan. U.S. Gov. Print. Off., Washington, D.C. 127 U.S. Bureau of Census 1966. 1964 Census of agriculture preliminary reports. U.S. Dept. Comm., Bur. Census, Series A.C. 64-P1. U.S. Forest Service 1907. Forest planting leaflet. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum). U.S. Dept. Agr., For. Ser., Circ. 95. 1908. Sugar maple Acer saccharum Marsh. U.S. Dept. Agr., For. Ser., Silvical Leaf. 42. 1954. Unpublished data. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., For. Ser., U.S. Dept. Agr. Weber, F.C. 1960. Farm sales of Vermont maple products, 1960. Univ. Vt. and State Agr. Coll., Agr. Expt. Sta., Misc. Pub. 16. Willits, C.O. 1962. Modernization of the maple syrup industry. Natl. Maple Syrup Digest 1(1):6-7. 1965. Maple sirup producers manual. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Handbook 134 (Revised). , Frank, H.A., and Bell, R.A. 1959. Cleaning plastic equipment used in handling maple sap. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Ser., ARS 73—23. , and Sipple, L. 1961. The use of plastic tubing for collecting and transporting maple sap. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Ser., ARS 73-25. Wolfe, D. 1966. The trouble with maple. Amer. Forests 72(6): 18-21, 48. Yoho, J.G. 1956. Private forest land ownership and management in thirty-one counties of the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Ph.D. thesis, Mich. State Univ. 128 Yoho, J.G., James, L.M., and Quinney, D.N. 1957. Private forest landownership and management in the lower half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Mich. State Univ., Agr. Expt. Sta., Tech. Bul. 261. Zillgitt, W.M. 1944. Growth response in sugar maple following light selective cutting. Jour. Forestry 42:680. 1945. Growth response in sugar maple following light selective cutting. Lake States For. Expt. Sta., Tech. Note 229. APPEND ICES 130 Appendix 1. Number of Forest Survey plots in northern hardwoods within Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Michigan Forest Survey, 1947-1949. Average stand diameter - inches Total Region 5-11 11-15 15 + plots Number Number Number Number Northern half _ 155 27 8 190 Southern half 95 158 68 321 Lower Peninsula 250 185 76 511 131 Appendix 2. Forest Survey plot record form. County Stand size class Type Average plot d.b.h. . Sugar maple Other species Total D.b.h. Number Sq.ft. Number Sq.ft. Number Sq.ft. Tapholes 2 . . . 4 . . . 6 . . . 8 . . . 10 . . . 12 . . . l4 . . . l6 . . . 18 . . . 20 . . . 22 . . . 24 . . . 26 . . . - 26+ . . . TOTAL . . . Species D.b.h. Age lO-year growth Nyland-65 132 Appendix 3. Producer sample questionnaire. Producer identification number Number of years in production Type of producer 1. Sap and syrup 2. Sap only 3. Syrup only Do you make commercial grade syrup from low grade sap? 1. Yes 2. No How may persons are used daily to gather sap? What type equipment is used to collect the sap? . Buckets only . Plastic bags only . Plastic tube systems . Plastic dropline and tank . A mixture 01.9-me How many tapholes were made in 1965? How many tapholes were made in 1964? How many tapholes were made in 1963? Why did you tap that number in 1965? No more tapholes available on the property. It does not pay to tap more. There is no market for more sap or syrup. No time to tap more. Cannot handle more tapping with present sapping equipment. . Cannot handle more sap with present evaporator. . Do not want to tap any more than now used. U'l-PUJNH 000.. \10'\ How many tapholes were installed on non-owned proper- ties in 1965? ‘ How many gallons of sap were required in 1965 to make one gallon of syrup? 133 How many gallons of sap purchased in 1965? How many gallons of sap sold in 1965? What are your plans for future production? 1. No change anticipated. 2. Will eXpand tapping. 3. Will reduce tapping. Percent change in tapping anticipated. Do you plan to purchase any sap by 1975? 1. Yes 2. No How many gallons? Do you plan to sell sap by 1975? 1. Yes 2. No How many gallons? ****** Accuracy of responses 1. From records 2. Sure memory 3. Guessing 134 Appendix 4. Criteria used to evaluate maple syrup process- ing plants for compliance with Michigan health laws.a Saphouse: 1. 2. Should be of tight construction, with adequate ventilation for removing steam. Should have floors, walls, and ceiling made of wood, plastic, metal, cement, or other such suitable material. Floors, walls, and ceiling should be kept clean. Running water and electricity are desired but not mandatory. A safe water supply adequate for cleaning needs should be provided. Handwashing facilities should be available in the saphouse, and consist of hot water, soap, wash basin, and individual towels. The saphouse must be free of rodents and insects at all times. tanks: Should be kept in a cool place outside the saphouse. Should be covered tightly enough to exclude contam— ination. Should be equipped with a strainer. Should be made of metal, but not of lead or be lead coated or soldered. Should not be painted with lead paint on the inside. aCriteria based on recommendations prepared by the Foods and Standards Division, Michigan Department of Agri- Culture, and the Forestry Department, Michigan State University (Mimeo, 1961). 135 Appendix 5. Producer-owned forest inventory form. Owner number ‘__ __ __ Woodland acres __ __ __ Plot number _________ Saphouse condition B.a./ac. Tapholes/ac. B.a./ac., maple Tapholes used per ac., 1965 B.a./ac., other Percent available tapholes used in 1965 __ __ Sugar maple stems tallied in_point-sample: Tapholes Tapholes No.per available used, 1965 Future D.b.h. ac. In tree Per ac. In tree Per ac. tapholes Nyland-65 136 Ionnmmm umwulu m .mhommnmsa .me .m .AhmmHv momma: cam coxHQ an UmpcmEEoomu mm poms GoHumE .Hm>mH unmoumm mm mnu pm mUcMHHm> msomcmmoEonlcoz n .Hm>mH ucmuumm mm on» um HGMUHMHcmHm I :« “Hump unmonHcmHmlcoc I mam :4ms.m aaao.s mew ammn.a mH6.H muummonm was no mHQMHHm>m mmHonmme mcmo. mmS.H mm mmm.¢ om cmms mmHonmmu mHQmHHm>w mo unmoumm memo. moo m.mm mam o.mH mmmHnmumucm mo mom m:¢o.o mwm.nmn.H th.H mmm.¢mH.m mmH.H 0mm: mmHonmmu Ho HmQESZ mummulu mocmHHm> some mUGMHum> some ©w>ummno ©GHMHDUHMU UmDMHsUHmo mHanHm> mGHumHH Hwospoum monumummo mQHHOQSmHmZ Eoum omuomHmm mHEOUGMH mGOHumnmmo .moma .mcflumaa on» so UmUDHocH Ho: mumosooum UmHmEmm £HH3 mcHumHH Hoodooum mUH>Hmm COHmcmuxm may CH omQSHUGH mumosooum asumm mHmmE UmHmEMm Ho GomHHmmEoo .o xHUcmmm< 137 Appendix 7. Sap flow capacities for various size tubing used on level topography.a Maximum tapholes Tube diameter accommodated Inches Number 5/16 20 1/2 60 3/4 180 l 540 aSource: Lamb, 1962, u.d.; Willits, 1965; Willits and Sipple, 1961. 138 Appendix 8. Cost of transporting maple sap across producing lands to the saphouse or roadside collection point. Northern half of Lower Peninsula--sap transportation system for 120 acres with 17 tapholes per acre, including one- quarter mile to roadside or saphouse: Equipment costs:a 8,078 ft., 1/2-inch tube . . $ 646.00 12,118 ft., 3/4-inch tube . . 1,454.00 1,795 ft., l-inch tube . . 359.00 Total $2,459.00 Annual cost =-'$333.47b Cost per taphole = $333.47 = $0.17C 2,000 Southern half of Lower Peninsula--sap transportation system for 20 acres with 33 tapholes per acre, including one- quarter mile to roadside or saphouse: Equipment costs:a 1,346 ft., I/2-inch tube . . $ 108.00 1,571 ft., 3/4-inch tube . . 189.00 224 ft., 1-inch tube . . 45.00 Total $ 342.00 b Annual cost = $82.62 Cost per taphole = $82.62 c -—-- = $0.12 700 aLengths of tubing determined from plotted diagrams. bSee Appendix 10. CSee Appendix 11. 139 Appendix 9. Cost of equipment and material required in commercial sapping operations, 1965. Part numbera Description Price 33-U 5/16-inch tubing, plastic $ 0.04 per ft. 43-U 1/2-inch tubing, plastic 0.08 per ft. 44—U 3/4-inch tubing, plastic 0.12 per ft. 45-U 1-inch tubing, plastic 0.20 per ft. 36 Nylon spile, ventless 0.10 each 34 Nylon tee, 5/16-inch 0.10 each 48 Nylon tee, l/2-inch for 4 lines 1.00 each 111 Plastic coupling, 3/4-inch 0.35 each 106 Reducing coupling, 3/4- x l/2-inch 0.40 each 60 Bronze gear pump, l/4-inchb 75.00 each .. Power tapperC 125.00 each .. Storage tanksd 0.13 per gal. aThe part number is for Lamb Naturalflow tubing and tube equipment. These listings do not constitute an endorse- ment of the manufacturer's product, but are used only for illustrative purposes. bSee Appendix 14. CSee Appendix 12. dSee Appendix 13. 140 Appendix 10. Computation of the annual cost for investment in sapping equipment. Annual cost is computed by a means that provides for return of capital annually, plus payment for interest on the remaining unpaid investment. The method is explained in detail on pages 377-378 of Chapman and. Meyer (1947). A fixed annual payment is applied to defray annual interest on the net principal, and to retire a portion of the net capital. The annual payment on the sum to be repaid over "n" years is: (1+p) n (p) (V) (1+p)n - l where: r = the annual payment p = the rate of interest V = the initial value or investment. This formula is a recast version of the discounted annuity formula: r ((1+p)n - 1) p (1+p)n 141 Appendix 11. The average size of farm woodlands and their tappable resource in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Average farm Average tapholes Total Region woodlanda per acreb tapholes Agggg Number Number Northern half 120 17 2,040 Southern half 21 33 693 aSource: Schallau, 1961; Yoho, 1956. bWeighted averages based on the stocking shown in Table 8. 142 Appendix 12. Annual cost of power tapping equipment, 1965. The initial cost of a power tapper is $125.00. With a life expectancy of five years, and depreciated at six percent per annum, the annual cost is:a (1.06)5 (0.06) ($125.00) (1.06)5 - 1 $29.68. Prorated over 700 tapholes for the average farm woodland in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, the cost per taphole is:b $29.68 = $0.04 700 Prorated over 2,000 tapholes for the average farm woodland in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula, the cost per taphole is:b $29.68 = $0.01 2,000 aSee Appendix 10. bSee Appendix 11. 143 Appendix 13. Cost of storage tanks used with plastic tube gathering systems, 1965. Tank capacity Total costa Cost per gallon Gallons Dollars Dollars 96 13.50 0.14 152 19.95 0.13 189 22.75 0.12 225 28.25 0.13 260 28.95 0.11 310 39.75 0.13 Average 0.13 Considering two gallons per taphole (Lamb, 1962, u.d.), plus one additional gallon for temporary storage in the transport system,b the total cost per taphole is: 3 gallons x $0.13 = $0.39 per taphole. Allowing an extra $0.01 per taphole for covering the tank brings the total cost per taphole to $0.40. aPrices quoted by Sears, Roebuck and Company in fall of 1965. These listings do not constitute an endorsement of the products, but are used only for illustrative purposes. bSee Appendix 8. 144 Appendix 14. Annual cost of tube cleaning equipment, 1965. Willits _E.§i- (1959), and Willits and Sipple (1961) describe methods and equipment required for cleaning plastic tube systems. Besides specific items needed for this opera- tion, gathering tanks and tube sections used for sapping can be employed in the cleaning operation. A pump purchased at an initial cost of $75.00 and depreciated over 5 years at a rate of 6 percent per annum a costs: (1.06)5 (0.06) ($75.00) (1.06)5 - 1 $17.80. Prorated over 700 tapholes for the average farm woodland in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, the cost per taphole is:b $17.80 = $0.03 700 Prorated over 2,000 tapholes for the average farm woodland in the northern half of the Peninsula, the cost per taphole is:b $17.80 = $0.01 2,000 aSee Appendix 10. bSee Appendix 11. 145 Appendix 15. Estimated annual Operating costs per taphole for sap production in Michigan's Lower Penin- sula, 1965. Equipment and COSt per taphole materials Northern half Southern half Dollars Dollars Paraformaldehyde pellet 0.01 0.01 Vacuum pumpinga 0.11 0.11 Power tapperb. 0.01 0.04 LaborC 0.20 0.20 Transport across the property 0.17 0.12 Cleaning equipmente 0.01 0.03 Cleaning materials 0.01 . 0.01 Total 0.52 0.52 aSource: Morrow, 1963. bSee Appendix 12. CCalculated at $1.50 per hour for 8 minutes accord- ing to time estimates made by Morrow (1961). dSee Appendix 8. eSee Appendix 14. 146 Appendix 16. Average sap sweetness reported for Michigan's Lower Peninsula, 1965.a Gallons of sap required for producing one gallon of syrup Northern half Southern half of Peninsula of Peninsula Number Number 45 32 40 40 42 37 50 45 40 37 36 40 35 37 4O 40 25 35 45 45 40 45 50 35 50 37 50 43 50 45 50 40 50 35 40 50 35 45 36 55 40 Total 889 736 Mean 42.3 40.9 Number 21 20 OBrix 2.03 2.14 Overall mean 2.08 = 2.1 OBrix t-test: Observed t = 0.14nS aBased on 41 averages reported by active producers for the 1965 boiling season. ns - non—significant. 147 Appendix 17. Proposed prices for maple sap delivered to an evaporator plant.a Sap sweetness Price per gallonb Egrix Dollars ‘— 1.5 0.015 1.6 0.020 1.7 0.025 1.8 0.030 1.9 0.035 2.0 0.040 2.1 0.043 2.2 0.046 2.3 0.049 2.4 0.052 2.5 0.055 2.6 0.058 2.7 0.061 2.8 0.064 2.9 0.067 3.0 0.070 aSource: Anonymous, 1962 bSap purchased and picked up at the sugarbush bears a haul charge of $0.005 to $0.01 per gallon. 148 6H.6N6 + u 66.666 ) 6H.H66 "mozaqam 6H.H6 6 . . . . 666.66 x meoHHmm 66H.~ .mpzm>mm 66.66 6 emoo umbzza Q6609 66.66 6 . . . 6066 66.66 66 mmaonmmu 66 "mumOU HMSCCM HOSUO ©®.Hm m H mmumno Hmscam 66.66H6 OIO.I.VMI. o o o o o o o . mMCMU wWMHOHW 66. . . . . :06H16\6 .umeamem H oo.m . . SUGHIN\H .muouomccoo m O6.m . . . . . nocHloH\m .mmmu 6m omom o o o o o o c o o mmnfinflmm mm 66.6 . . means» nueane\m ..06 66 66.66 . . oceans nueasm\a ..66 666 66.66 6 . . means“ e06H16H\6 ..66 666.H uucwEmHsvm "memou Amuom Hmm meonmmu mmv MHSmchmm H0304 mo HHmn cumnusom 6H.666 + u 66.666 u 66.666 .6026666 66.66 6 . . . . 666.66 x macaamm 666.6 .mazm>6m 66.66 6 emoo qm mmzocH mHIHH pcmum 6 GH whom mom mmmuu om mom .UmuomH IHoo mum£3 muummoum mnu um Ummmwooum mH mam mnu c033 mCHmmmu cm>mlxmmun How pmHHdvmu mconoum mcHEHmumU on @065 mHmmHmcm umoo one mo mHmmem cm .wH xHocmmmd 149 Appendix 19. Cost of delivering maple sap five miles to an evaporator plant. A 500—gallon per day operation that hauls sap 5 miles to the evaporator plant incurs the following cost per gallon: Truck rental: l-1/2 ton truck for 10 miles at $0.20 per mile: $0.20 x 10 mi. = $0.004 per gallon 500 gal. Storage tanks: 2 tanks, 250 gallons each at $0.13 per gallon, at 6 percent per annum:a (1.06)10 (0.06) ($65.00) 10 = $8.83 per year (1.06) — 1 $8.83 / 15,000 gallonsb = $0.001 per gallon. Labor cost: 2 hours per day at $1.50 per hour: $3.00 = $0.006 per gallon. 500 gal. When combined, these costs total $0.011 per gallon. aSee Appendix 10. b500 gallons per day for a 30-day season gives 15,000 gallons per year. 1150 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 6666663 66 66 666 666.6 666 666 ..... 662506666 666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 6666 6666666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666 066666 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 ..... 666666 666 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.6 66o6666 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 ..... 362666 666 666.6 666.66 666 666.66 666.6 666.6 666606 666 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 O66636z 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666 60666o56coz 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 666666662 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 666666: 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666oo62 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666. 6o66z 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.6 6666666: 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 56666666 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 6666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 6666x666 666 666.6 666.6 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 66666666 666 666 666.6 666 666.6 666 666 o6666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.66 666.6 666.6 6666>66e 66660 66 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 6636666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 66666 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 ..... 66o63660 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 66660 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666 :666op660 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666.6 x6o>666660 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 666666 66 666 666.6 666 666 666 666.6 666 66 666 666 666 666 666 666 666666 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.66 666.6 266666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666.66 666.66 666.6 666 666666 666 666 666.6 666.6 666.6 666 ..... 666666 AmHsmch0m 60306 m0 men cu0cuuozv mouod m060¢ 60606 60606 m0uo¢ m060< mmuud 00665 6 00660006 00600H600 mcHHmmm 60AEHu0Hom 60QEHu3Mm 60AEH6300 mucsoo 0060>HH0Q oHom 060:3 p0mm0ooum ImcHH©00m HHMEm 00606 AmH mam 056 «H mchmmu 0066 0003660: anonuuoz H6H060EEOU 60w ©0uH56 0064 mmv¢HI6¢mH .MHDmchom H0306 m.cmmH£0Hz 60m hucsoo >9 0060 0Hnmmmmu 0:0 UCMH ammuom 0003060: 060:6602 .oN prC0mm< 151 .0H 0600B E060 0060060 0000000600 0:665 0Q 0000650H00 0060 0Hn0mm0e Q I) (I .I (I .6666 :06. mm 6666 HQ600H .0600H ..H u >000650 u000H ..H0 00 X0000 u000H .000H .000H .0600 000 060:0 1000H .0m0£O "0065000 660.6 000.H 066.0 000.H 000 006.H 006.H 0:603 066.0 000.0 00H.6 006 000.6 000.0 000.0 30000Lm03 060.0 060.6 006.HH 000 000.0 006.0 000.0 c0usnc0> 060.0 000.0 006.0H 006.6 006.0 006.0 000.0 0H00009 666 666 666.6 666 666 666 666 666666 .66 000.0 000.0 06H.6H 006.0 006.0 006.0 000.0H 66060 .00 000.0 000.0 000.0 000 000.6 000.6 006.0 066030650 000.6 060.0 000.6 006 000 000.0 000.0 0066c00 000.0 000.0 000.6 00H.H 000.H 000.0 000.0 30c6000 660.6 000.0 006.0 006.6 000.0 006.H 00H.0 030000 000.6 660.0 600.06 000.6 000.0 000.0 000.6 0006x0o 000.6 060.0 600.6 00H.H 000.0 00H.v 000.0 0000x652 600.6 666.0 006.6 000.0 000 000.0 000.0 EH0oucoz 000.6 000.H 000.0 000 000 006.H 000.0 006c02 660.6 060.6 600.0 000.6 000.6 000.6 006.0 050002 060.0 600.0 060.6 000 000.6 000.H 000.0 c006006>66 000.0 600.0 00H.0H 000 000.H 000.0 000.0H 0030206 060.0 000.0 060.6H 000.6 000.0 000.0 006.0 600006 006.0 000.6 060.0H 006.0 000.H 000.0 000.0 000& 060.6 0H0.0 006.0 000 006 000 000.0 0060E0H0x ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... COmx000 660.0 000.0 060.0 000.0 000 000.0 006.0 06:06 060.0 006.0 006.6 000 006 000.H 006.0 E03006 000.0 066.0 006.0 000.0 000.0 00H.v 000.6 006:: 600.0 606.0 066.0 00¢ 000.6 006.0 000.0 0H006HH60 000.6 000.0 000.0 000 000.H 006.0 000.0 0060060 666.6 666.6 666.6 660 606.6 666.6 666.6 06666060 060.0 000.6 000.0 000 006 000.0 000.0 00000 000.6 000.0 600.6 000.6 000 000.6 000.0 0000660 000.0 600.0 000.0 000 000.6 000.H 006.0 6600 060 000 060.H 000 00H 000 000.H 0505600 600.6 6H0.H 000.0 000 000 000.0 000.0 £00060 000.6 000.6 000.0 000 006.H 000.0 000.0 c06660m 000.0 000.0 060.0 006 000 000 000.0 06600 060.0 000.0 060.HH 000.6 000.0 000.0 00H.HH c000HH¢ A0HSmch0m H030A 0:0 00 0H0: cumnusomv 00600 00600 60600 00604 00600 00604 00600 m0HHE 0 00600006 ©0000HH00 0:6H00m 60QEHO0H00 H0£EH0300 H0QEH0300 000300 0060>HH0Q ©H00 060:3 000600060 1006H000m HH0Em 00606 "06 006 0:0 06 0060000 H06060EE00 600 000600 006d 0060 00030605 C60£0602 00:060c00II.00 XHCC0QQ< 152 .60066 .050000 .650 .m.Dv 06566506600 60 050000 6006.066 :6 065006000 60306 066 60 660: £000 606 00660006 060050060 000 00606006 60 00066600060 066 00 00006 00060>0 00660603 00 000 066.06 066 06 600.60 06 065006000 60306 06 600.0 06 66 060.06 06 660: , 06036500 00 060.06 00 0 060.00 06 660: 06066602 6000600 606552 6000600 606852 606E52 606852 00606009 00606009 060050060 060050060 0005 0060800 006000 0006 00030I000 :0 0060009 00606009 060050060 .0006 .065006000 60306 0.00066062 06 0060600 060050060 66 00006 600606 00030160050060 00:6 60:60 00 0066050060 000 .60 x6ccmmm< 153 Appendix 22. Sugar maple diameter growth in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Sugar Maple Diameter Growth Sugar maple grows slowly to moderately fast, but persistently (Eyre and Zillgitt, 1950; Gilbert and Jensen, 1958; U.S. For. Ser., 1907, 1908). Furthermore, data col- lected by Doppel (1927) and Zillgitt (1945) from old-growth stands show diameter growth increasing with tree size up to some maximum diameter, but thereafter decreasing or remain- ing somewhat constant. Other published data indicate that mean annual increment changes with tree age. On an average, stems reach tappable size after 60 to 80 years' growth (Chittenden, 1923; Doppel, 1927; Illick and Frontz, 1928). Goodman (1957) claims that stand density influences sugar maple growth. However, past studies show this effect only for recently logged areas where diameter growth in- creased in proportion to the intensity of the cut (Anonymous, 1928; Downs, 1946; Jensen, 1943; Zillgitt, 1944). Although published data actually describe the magnitude of tree response to differing degrees of release, they do give some reason to suspect a cause-effect relationship between stand density and growth. 1 The hypothesis that diameter increment varies with tree size and is affected by stand density gets support from unpublished growth data prepared for the 1947-1949 Forest 154 Survey of Michigan. These show sugar maple diameter incre- ment at approximately 1 to 2 inches in 10 years, depending upon tree diameter and stand stocking (U.S. For. Ser., 1954).1 Growth Estimates Increment borings from the 1947-1949 Forest survey in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula provided data to test the hypothesis outlined above and to generate the sugar maple diameter growth estimates needed within the project. These measurements included the past lO-year radial incre- ment, with tree diameter, tree age, and stand density per- taining to the terminus of the growth period. Two procedures described by Davis (1954), Husch (1963), and Spurr (1952) were used. The first technique pro- vides an estimate of the increment previously attained in different size classes by relating past increment to present values for sample tree parameters. In essence, it describes how much trees of a given diameter and condition grew in the preceding growth period. The second approach postulates that the growth of a size class will repeat the pattern and increment established by sample trees previously the same size, but which have subsequently grown larger. This latter 1The Forest Survey growth estimates were not pre— pared for specific stand densities, but only for the very general stocking classes used in the Survey. 155 scheme relates diameter increment to sample tree and stand values at the beginning of the observed growth period. It estimates the increment expected in future years. To apply the latter technique for estimating future sugar maple growth from the Forest Survey data first re- quired adjusting the measurements to describe initial values. Beginning tree diameters were obtained by subtracting the increment as follows: D1 = D2 - 2(Gr) where D1 = initial d.b.h. D2 = terminal d.b.h. Gr = lO-year radial growth But adjusting the stand basal area necessitated accounting for the accretion of all trees on the Forest Survey plot. This was accomplished in two stages: 1. For the 369 sugar maple sample trees and the 498 trees of species other than sugar maple,2 past growth was estimated with the regression model: _ 2 GP — bO + bl(D2) + b2(D2) + b3(BZ) where GP = past lO-year radial growth D2 = terminal d.b.h. B2 = terminal stand basal area per acre. 2Other species include primarily American beech, American basswood, black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), American elm (Ulmus americana L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), and white oak (guercus alba L.), plus small numbers of miscellaneous species. - 156 Tables A and B show the past growth equations generated, and Figure A presents past diameter increment curves calculated from these equations. 2. Diameter increment (Figure A) was converted to past basal area increment, and the individual growth values for all trees on a plot accumulated to describe total plot accretion. Finally, plot basal area growth was combined with mortality data3 and used to adjust the terminal plot basal area to describe initial stocking as follows: B1 = B2 - s(bi) + M where B1 = the initial plot basal area per acre B2 = the terminal plot basal area per acre S(bi) = the cumulative basal area increment for all trees on the plot M = the basal area mortality. 3For 117 continuous forest inventory plots in north- ern hardwood stands on lands owned by the Michigan Conserva— tion Department, the average lO-year mortality per acre was 1.75 square feet. 157 Table A. Regression analysis for past sugar maple diameter growth Partial regression Variable coefficient F b0 0.7032612 65.17**a D2 0.0358930 10.l9** 022 -0.0008338 4.20** B2 -0.0028332 27.08** Analysis of Variance Source d.f. Sum of squares F Regression 3 4.33 18.03** Residual 365 29.19 Total 368 33.51 R2 = 0.129 ** - Significant at the 99 percent level. 158 Table B. Regression analysis for past growth of species other than sugar maple Partial regression Variable coefficient F b0 0.7634417 51.01ama D2 0.0372727 6.78** D2 -0.0008074 2.47* B2 —0.0021564 10.l9** Analysis of Variance Source d.f. Sum of squares F Regression 3 5.39 9.46** Residual 494 93.76 Total 497 99.14 R2 = 0.054 a** - Significant at the 99 percent level; * - Signif- icant at the 94 percent level. 159 Figure A. Past 10-year diameter growth for sugar maple and other species in Michigan's Lower Peninsula (shaded area defines limits of the data). 2.]: l!‘ 160 / // .1 6 1 ’ . , '_'/ . , [,1 I: 1 ' - I "t I ' ' ‘ / ’- ’/" .’7// 7 ,/v /{. ' r I// 1,”, ///,,’»/// ,v , ;V//.///-////;r‘//44 40’5", /’////’// 1’ {/5/ ,//1/ @1120 (,4, 4,22? 47 /, V v v v v ' i ' 5 3 2 :2 11‘ ha 1'4 1': Terminal m (m) P- DIN 2.3: 21‘ 11‘ V V ' V V v v ‘ n I '. n —. ' ' — F [7' 161 After completing these adjustments the initial tree diameter was combined with initial stand density in the regression model: _ 2 Gf — bO + bl(Dl) + b2 (D1) + b3(Bl) where Gf = future lO-year radial increment for sugar maple. Subjecting the sugar maple growth observations to this model ' yielded the equation (Table C) used to calculate the lO—year diameter growth estimates for a range of stand conditions and tree diameters (Table D). Each variable included in the regression models proved statistically significant. But addition of the aver- age stand diameter to the equations gave only a non-signif- icant improvement beyond the other variables. In all models, the R2 values were low, suggesting that the selected inde— pendent variables accounted for only a small portion of the variation associated with the sample tree diameter growth. In an attempt to improve the correlation, individual tree age was added to the model, and multiple regression analysis applied to 175 observations with age measurements.4 Table E shows the equation obtained. Although adding tree age gave a significant improvement in the estimated growth, the R2 only increased from 0.123 to 0.174 for the 175 obser- vations used. Thus, the bulk of variation remains unex- plained. 4The restricted sample had a mean diameter of 3.8 inches less than the complete set used earlier. 162 Table C. Regression analysis for future growth of sugar maple Partial regression Variable coefficient F b0 0.7812351 107.12“a ** Dl 0.0297104 7.54 012 -0.0008843 4.15** Bl -0.0033201 25.l3** Analysis of Variance Source d.f. Sum of squares F Regression 3 3.10 12.22** Residual 357 30.16 Total 360 33.26 R2 = 0.093 a** Significant at the 99 percent level. £1613 .nuuv any no uuaflaa cannon one». nouns. use - I... .»H# D 00.0 10.0 01.0 10.0 1o.0 00.0 10.1 00.1 01.1 11.1 n0.0 01.0 01.0 no.0 00.0 10.0 10.1 01.1 11.1 n0.0 11.0 01.0 00.0 10.0 00.0 00.1 011.111 01.1 . ...1 \.«\.€. .. . 1 >710 10.0 01.0 10.0 00.0 n0.0 10.1 00.1 n1.1 11.1 00.0 01.0 no.0 00.0 00.0 00.1 01.1 01.1 01.1 .;,. . . ... .. .; .1 no.1 www.1mflowmofi nn.1 w1n.1w 00.1 n1.1 1o.1 0o.1 n1 00.1 1n.1 on.1 00.1 11.1 o1.1 no.1 10.1 01 _0.,» 0111.1 01.0 11.0 00.0 10.0 00.0 00.1 11.1 1mmm1w .00001; 11.0 01.0 no.0 10.0 00.0 n0.1 11.1 01.1 n1.1 A 00.1 11.0 01.0 no.0 10.0 00.0 00.1 11.1 01.1 01.1 11.0 01.0 00.0 00.0 00.0 00.1 01.1 01.1 01.1