Resilient Sugarbush Management

This course is an introduction to sustainable sugarbush management, maple trees, and tapping practices. It covers maple physiology, regeneration, and stressors, including insects and diseases, as well as climate data and the potential impacts of climate change on sugarbushes. It will also discuss best practices in tapping and the impact that technology has had on the industry over the past half-century. Topics:

1. Maple Tree Biology

2. Science of Sap Flow and Tapping

3. Tree Stress and Health: Biotic (insects, fungi, diseases) and abiotic (weather, soil, human-caused) stressors

4. Climate Effects on Sugarbushes

5. Using Climate Data for Decision

6. Industry Trends and Challenges.

Completion of the course offers 9 CFE-credits of Category 1 (Society of American Foresters).