Maple Days coming to Orford, Lac Mégantic

Eastern Townships maple producers are preparing later this month for two Maple Days 2016, an activity organized by the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in collaboration with the Union of the Eastern Townships Maple Syrup Producers and La Financière agricole du Québec, to be held under the theme "Innovation and sustainable management is profitable!.

Topics on the agenda include:

• The Asian Longhorn Beetle: a major threat

• Isopropyl alcohol and plastics in collection;

• Sugarbush management: aiming for a high yield per hectare

• Upgrading maple equipment (International Maple Syrup Institute Agreement [IMSI]-California);

Speakers will also address new generation wood and pellet evaporators

and, specifically:

• Features and Operation;

• Switching from oil to wood: survey results;

• Forestry equipment and firewood.

Finally, exhibitors will be on hand to meet and discuss about various aspects of maple syrup production. The com- plete program for these days and how to register can be found on the MAPAQ Website: www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/estrie.

The meetings will be held on Thursday, January 14 at the Hôtel Chéribourg, 2603 Ch. du Parc at 8 a.m. and on Saturday January 23 at the Polyvalente Montignac, 3409 Laval St., Lac Mégantic, also beginning at 8 a.m.

Registration deadline is January 5, 2016 to January 18 for Orford and LacMégantic