Cold weather and tariffs squeeze Maine’s maple producers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 20, 2026

A deep winter chill across the Maine woods has kept maple trees dormant longer than usual this year, forcing producers into a high-stakes race against time as the sap finally begins to flow. Southern Maine farmers plan for a mid-February start, but a stubborn winter has held trees in a deep sleep until March. The delay has some worried about the length of their harvest window before the spring warmth causes trees to bud, which ends their season.