PLYMOUTH, Wis. — On a cold March morning, Barbara Drewry-Zimmerman can be found trudging through the snow on her farm south of Plymouth.

It is something that she has done throughout her life.

What You Need To Know

  • With sap flowing, producers have begun making maple syrup 

  • Wisconsin is the 4th largest syrup producing state

  • Warm days, cold nights needed for sap to flow

  • Total output hard to predict at this point in the season 

“My favorite job is to walk in the woods,” said Drewry-Zimmerman as she cut through the groves of maple trees.

Drewry-Zimmerman is one of the driving forces behind Drewry Farms Maple Syrup, which has been produced here for over 150 years.

It has been a warmer than average winter, which means that sap has been flowing early this year. The farm began tapping trees and boiling syrup in February.

Each year, it is unpredictable when the farm will be able to start producing.

“Growing up as a farmer, we are very dependent on how God provides for us. We have that faith that everything is going to be okay,” said Drewry-Zimmerman.

Maple syrup production is reliant on freezing nights and warm days in order to get the sap flowing. Days with direct sunlight also help increase the flow.

Drewry-Zimmerman said that an early start to the season doesn’t necessarily impact the total amount of production the farm will have.

In fact, it is something they never know until they tally the final totals at the end of the season.

“You gotta wait, kinda like Christmas morning when you go to open your presents,” Drewry-Zimmerman said. “You just don’t know what’s in those boxes, don’t know how the season will go.”

According to the USDA, Wisconsin produced more than 440,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2022, making it the fourth highest maple syrup producing state.