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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service Attachment C-1
Plant Management Enhancement Activity – EPL45 – Improve plant health and
vigor by utilizing a minimum 28” drop line to evenly distribute taps along each tree trunk.
EPL45 -28 – Inch Drop Line
The Conservation Security Program (CSP) offers a new enhancement activity opportunity to reward
or encourage the increased health and vigor of plants by utilizing a minimum 28-inch drop line to
evenly distribute taps along each tree trunk.
Improve plant health and vigor by utilizing a minimum 28" drop line to evenly distribute taps along
each tree trunk .
Payment equals $20.00/ac
Benefits:
Drop lines are the permanent, vertical tubing that connects the spout (or tap) to the horizontal tubing,
which carries the sap (either by gravity or vacuum) to the sugar house. The purpose of a drop line is
to space the newly drilled hole so that it is far enough apart from past years’ drilled holes or wounds
so that the operator is utilizing the entire circumference of the tree when tapping from year to year. If
an operator is ‘cluster tapping’ (see photo below) or over tapping, then a large area of the tree will
not have enough time to heal and will no longer be a producing area of the tree. Not just for sap
collection, but also for the transportation of sugars from the leaves to the roots and back to the leaves
again because the over tapped area will no longer be available to transport. The length of drop line is
of significant importance because if the drop line is not long enough, the operator is unable to utilize
the entire circumference of the tree when spacing the hole or holes. The longer the drop line, the
better spacing of taps, which leads to increased plant health.
Criteria for EPL45 – 28 Inch Drop Line
Attach a plan map showing the field locations where a minimum 28-inch drop line is being utilized
on each tree being taped for maple syrup production.
References
The North American Maple Syrup Producers' Manual Income
Opportunities in Special Forest Service Agriculture Information Bulletin 666
Products Self-Help Suggestions for Rural Entrepreneurs Chapter 14—Syrup Pg 177-184
Washington, D.C May 1993 Margaret G. Thomas David R. Schumann, retired
Midwest Research Institute State and Private Forestry 425 Volker Boulevard Forest Service
Kansas City, MO U.S. Department of Agriculture One Gifford Pinchot Drive Madison, WI
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/usda/agib666/aib666.pdf
Example of an acceptable drop line
United States Department of Agriculture Attachment C-2
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CSP Enhancement Certification Sheet
EPL45 – Improve plant health and vigor by utilizing a minimum 28” drop line to evenly
distribute taps along each tree trunk. – 28 Inch Drop Line
Participant Acknowledgement Statement:
I agree to apply this enhancement under the terms and conditions of my CSP contract and
understand the requirements of the activity.
Compensation will be on a per acre basis as described in my CSP contact.
CTUs/Fields Units Applied Enhancement Activity
I agree that the following information will be provided to NRCS upon request:
1. Written documentation of the activity performed.
2. Copies of dated receipts for equipment or services purchased.
I understand that it is my responsibility to obtain all necessary permits and to comply
with all laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to the application of these activities.
Accepted by: ___________________________________ Date:_____________
Participant Certification Sheet – Plant Management December 2007
USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
