14 COLLEGE OF FORESTRY Optimizing maple syrup production in the PNW The College of Forestry Maple Lab, led by Eric Jones, instructor and assistant professor of practice, has several new experiments underway. The first is work on affordable, small-scale ultrafiltration and ultraviolet light systems to control microbial growth that can spoil fresh sap before it is processed into maple syrup. The team includes food science Ph.D. student Andrea Domen and COF courtesy faculty Brian Kearney. Early results are promising and producers could be incorporating the technology in their production systems as early as winter 2025. Professor Emeritus Barb Lachenbruch is leading a second area of research on sap flow dynamics using vacuum chambers developed and custom built by Garth Jensen and Art Myers, two facility and operations staff at the college. This study explores how additional tap holes affect vacuum pressure and sap collection quantities, particularly considering tree responses such as internal pressure loss from leaks and the formation of nonconductive wood. Findings from this research will help producers improve tap hole management for greater sap production without compromising overall tree health. And finally, Professor Chris Still installed automatic point dendrometers on maples at a producer partner site outside Sheridan, Oregon, as an exploratory test for including Acer macrophyllum in his studies on heat stress in Northwest trees. The data is proving valuable and the research recently expanded to include maples at other properties outside Marcola, Oregon. This research is crucial for understanding how heat stress from events like heat domes contributes to our overall understanding of climate change in the Pacific Northwest, and researchers hope the findings will help maple syrup producers anticipate and plan for impacts on their maple trees. COF enrollment surges The numbers are in and we’re proud to report that the college experienced record growth last fall with enrollment surging by 9% compared to Fall 2023. Undergraduate enrollment rose by 8% and graduate enrollment grew by an impressive 16%. This is particularly significant considering that, over the past decade, annual growth has typically been in the range of 1-3%. We’d like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our faculty, staff and specifically the student services team, whose support and hard work have been crucial in helping our students join the college community and pursue a life-changing education. Supporting food security for students Last October, the college again hosted a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the student food pantry Rootstock. Our incredible community donated a total of $16,433 to help keep the pantry stocked for another year. Special thanks to Heath Webb (‘13), a hardware testing engineer, who helped secure a $5,000 matching donation from his employer Trimble, a construction technology provider. In December, the college also hosted its third annual “Bobbin’ Through the Woods” Craft Fair, which raised another $7,000 thanks to the support of more than 30 vendors who participated in the show. NEWS + NOTES
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