I have visited or communicated with over 30 syrup producers in Missouri, most of them hobbyists, some in the business of selling. They all are willing to share information about their practices, some even have an "open house" during their production. I encourage all syrupmakers to regularly post reports and questions about Missouri syrupmaking on the Facebook site called Missouri Maple Syrup, administered by James Brochtrup of the Festus MO area. His site is serving as a great online "community" and network opportunity. Through his website you may be able to find someone who has spare supplies, or learn about upcoming meetings or seminars.
If you have questions about syrupmaking, email me at kcwyks atsign gmail.com. I will try to respond promptly.
If there is sufficient interest, a syrupmaker association will be formed and have a website with a list of members and their contact and location information. I get occasional inquiries from farmers markets or restaurants looking for Missouri syrup, and I post those requests on the facebook site mentioned above.
There are several Missouri entities that are not involved in my initiative but they are "pushing in the same direction". Staff of the University of Missouri Extension, the Forestry Department of MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and MU Center for Agroforestry have expressed interest and encouragement, and I welcome their suggestions. Their future involvement will be necessary for applying for grants, improving communication and social media presence, and conducting workshops featuring forestry and syrupmaking experts.
The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri, established in 1998, is one the world's leading centers contributing to the science underlying agroforestry, the science and practice of intensive land-use management combining trees and/or shrubs with crops and/or livestock.
http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/
MU Extension is a partnership of the University of Missouri campuses, Lincoln University, the people of Missouri through county extension councils, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They have staff dedicated to forestry issues.
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