It’s been a sweet harvest for the Oneida Indian Nation’s Wáhta’ Maple Farm with a record-breaking season that nearly exceeds syrup production for the last three years combined.
And, this Earth Day, the maple farm is also taking historic steps to honor the Oneida people’s commitment to environmental stewardship with a pledge to plant up 16,000 new trees over the next three years.
During the 2026 sugaring season, the Wáhta’ Maple Farm team tapped 6,700 trees (550 more than the previous year) spanning 75 acres, all of which are maintained without the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
“Many of these maple trees have ancestral roots on Oneida Indian Nation lands and have been tapped for generations by Nation members, with some trees first tapped more than a century ago,” Oneida Indian Nation officials said in a statement. “The resulting harvest from these existing trees delivered a record-breaking yield of 181,000 gallons of maple sap to produce 2,440 gallons of organic table syrup.”
Wáhta’ Maple Farm will build upon this historic season and the Oneida Indian Nation’s long legacy of environmental stewardship with its three-year plan to expand the sugarbush with thousands of new super sweet maple trees.
About the trees
This variety of maple grows quickly and will be ready to tap in just 10 to 15 years instead of the 40 or more years required by most maple trees. The sap produced is also considerably sweeter, with up to eight percent sugar content compared to the 1.5 to 2.5 percent sugar content of standard maple sap.
The new trees will be planted with a specially developed tool that allows just two people to plant up to 1,000 trees daily and protected by 6-foot tubes that prevent damage due to deer and other animals without chemicals. Diversification of tree species within the sugarbush will also help protect the new maple trees, as the introduction of birch and cherry trees will minimize damage due to disease and pests.
More on the farm’s sustainable policies
Wáhta’ Maple Farm’s sustainable practices also continue inside its processing facility, where advanced reverse-osmosis equipment maximizes syrup yield and reduces waste products. All of the maple farm’s syrup is certified organic by NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC as well.
Throughout the season, the farm engaged in collecting the sap around the clock. The sap was then being turned into delicious products headed to shelves across Central New York this May. Wáhta’ Maple Farm products, such as maple syrup, infused flavored syrups, maple cream, maple sugar, candies and a line in partnership with local brand Utica Coffee, are offered at:
In addition to continuing the Oneida Indian Nation’s enduring commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, Wáhta Maple Farm honors the special significance of maple sap and syrup in Haudenosaunee culture.
“The Oneida people consider maple sap to be a gift from the Creator that provides a sweet reward for enduring the cold and challenges of Upstate New York winters,” Oneida Indian Nation officials said in a statement. “To enjoy this reward, maple sap must be transformed into syrup, a process that requires a great deal of hard work and collaboration. This tradition continues today, and each spring the Oneida people hold maple ceremonies that honor the Creator’s gift and the lessons it teaches.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Wáhta’ Maple Farm has record breaking season, plants new trees
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
