CHARDON -- Warm Winter gets sap running early and it could lead to a shortened syrup season.
Buckets have begun to show up on Geauga County trees early this year as syrup producers take advantage of the warm weather. Those who have tapped are seeing a good yield.
James Miller of Happy Valley Maple says, "I've never tapped before on January 23, but we did this year and hope to get a good season."
His sugarbush is located near Burton and his evaporator has transformed thousands of gallons of sap into maple gold.
Some producers are waiting to see what happens and that could leave them short. At Richards Maple Products, Jen Freeman says they have yet to tap one tree.
Freeman said, "Usually, we have a good hard winter and that helps us produce good syrup in springtime. Well, we haven't had winter yet so we're not sure what's going to come for syrup season." They're not worried about running out, but a lower yield could lead to higher prices.
WKYC-TV