With a very cold February and so far into March, the maple syrup season in Maine is off to a very slow start. Maine Maple Sunday is March 23rd and many local sugar houses are off to a slow start.It has simply been too cold for the sap to flow. The best conditions to collect sap are when temperatures go above freezing during the day and below freezing at night.

Last season, many local farms starting making syrup in February.

Maine's maple syrup season normally begins in late February or early March and lasts up to six weeks depending on the weather.

This Wednesday, Governor Paul LePage, is scheduled to tap a maple tree on the Blaine House lawn in the state's annual kickoff to the maple syrup season.

In 2013, the USDA said that Maine is the country's third largest producer of maple syrup, making 450,000 gallons. Vermont and New York are one and two. Quebec makes the majority of the world's supply of maple syrup.

More From B98.5