Proctor Maple Research Center - Underhill Center - Vermont
Recent Publications
- Chemical Composition of Scale
- Sustainable Tapping Guidelines
- Tubing Cleaning - Methods Used in the U.S.
- High Vacuum in Gravity Tubing
- Tubing System Age and Sap Yield
- Estimating Twig Starch
- Leader Check-Valve Adapters
- Tubing System Aging
- Sap and Vacuum Dynamics
- UVM PMRC Survey - all respondents
- UVM PMRC Survey - respondents who used CV adapters
- PMRC Research Update 2010
- Antimicrobial Silver in Maple Sap Collection
- Check-Valve Spout Adapter
- 2009 Tapping Survey Results
- 2010 Tapping Survey Results
- Air Injection
- Metabolism Off-Flavor in Maple Syrup: Part I
- Metabolism Off-Flavor in Maple Syrup: Part II
- Guidelines for the Improvement of Combustion Efficiency for Maple Producers
- Timing of Tapping
- Vacuum Sap Collection: How High, or Low, Should You Go?
- Temperature Patterns within an Oil-Fired Maple Evaporator
- Sugar Profiles of Maple Syrup Grades
- Comparison of the "Small" Spout with the Traditional 7/16" Spout
- Wilmot columns from Farming Magazine
The PMRC Mission
The Proctor Maple Research Center is a
Field Research Station of the Department
of Plant Biology in the
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at
the University of Vermont.
Basic and applied maple research at the University of Vermont (UVM) began in the early
1890's. The Proctor Maple Research Center was established in 1946 with
the donation of the former Harvey Farm in Underhill Center, Vermont, to the University of
Vermont by Governor Mortimer Proctor. Research has centered on the sugar maple tree
(Acer saccharum Marsh.) and its products--sap and syrup. Funding for research
comes from Federal, State, and private sources. Much of the applied research has provided
new and/or improved techniques for efficient sap collection and evaporation systems and
for improvement of maple syrup quality while basic research has contributed to an improved
understanding of the physiology and towards the continued health of sugar maple trees.
The mission of the Proctor Maple Research Center is divided
into three categories; Research, Demonstration, and Education.
Maple research conducted at the Proctor Center has increased knowledge of the sap flow mechanism, weather variables affecting sap yield, carbohydrate metabolism, sap biochemistry and microbiology, syrup chemistry, and wood anatomy and physiology. Other work has examined the health of sugar maple in relation to various biotic and abiotic stresses, including climate and nutrition.
There are two major stands of sugarwoods and a modern sugarhouse that support our demonstration sugaring operation. We put out approximately 1,550 taps to produce 750 to 950 gallons of maple syrup each year, all of which is sold through the University of Vermont bookstore.
The Center is used as a field classroom for students, scientists in many disciplines, and for maple syrup producers. The education mission is accomplished through presentations, demonstrations, and tours. Our facilities are open to to maple producers, foresters, elementary through college students and faculty, and other interested people. Please call to schedule a presentation or tour. We also work closely with the UVM Extension maple specialists to provide maple education opportunities to groups and individuals throughout Vermont and the northeast region.
Last modified May 27 2008 11:31 AM