Click here for important updates to our privacy policy. BUSINESS Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Climate change is affecting the maple syrup industry, causing the season to start earlier and impacting sap production. Wisconsin ranks fourth in the nation in maple syrup production, producing 458,000 gallons in 2024. The Wagner family has been in the maple syrup business for three generations and is one of the largest producers in Wisconsin. Technological advancements, such as plastic tubing and central evaporator plants, have transformed the maple syrup industry. TILLEDA — When 66-year-old Charlie Wagner departs this world after decades of making maple syrup, he wants his epitaph to say, “The Maple Syrup King.” His 40-year-old son, Ross, proudly boasts a well-worn hoodie which says, “I’d Tap That.” The Wagners tap around 85,000 maple trees for their sap that’s boiled down into sweet-tasting syrup, one of the largest operations of its kind in Wisconsin. This time of year, as the snow melts and the trees awaken, they’re working 18-hour days to keep up with the flow of sap and syrup cooking before the maple sugaring season ends later in the month. “I could be in Florida right now but I enjoy the cooking,” Charlie said. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Wisconsin is ranked fourth in the nation, behind Vermont, New York and Maine in maple syrup production, with 458,000 gallons in 2024. The number of tree taps in Wisconsin increased 20,000 to more than 1.1 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tapping involves going from tree to tree in the forest, drilling holes into the wood which carries the sap. A tree must be at least 10-to-12 inches in diameter and in good health before it can be tapped. Buckets can be used to collect the sap, […]