MAINE PUBLIC • October 16, 2025
As drought conditions continue to worsen across Maine, maple producers and industry experts are worrying about the health of the sugarbush, and what this year's drought could mean for future sap and syrup yields. Jason Lilley, a maple industry educator with the UMaine Cooperative Extension, says the fact that maple trees are dropping their leaves a week early indicates they are stressed, and stress is bad for sugar production. But, he says, maple trees have an "insurance policy" — they can store sugars for several years.