TABERG - Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County says maple syrup production is up quite a bit locally over last season.

"Good conditions mean a plentiful amount of syrup," said Remi Link of Link's Maple Farm. "40 degree days like today and the next few days you want freezing 28 degrees."

A year ago, late-arriving winter and snow that lingered for weeks resulted in a deep freeze for syrup production which dropped 11% according to state statistics.

Syrup producer and agriculture expert Remi Link says this season will be much better.

"I'm very optimistic this year because the temperatures are better than previous years," Link said.

This year the smoke stack has been active letting off steam from the evaporator inside Link's sugar house helping create the final product.

The shelves are stacked, and barrels are full, and, in fact, 1/3 of Link's syrup crop has already been bottled.

While professional syrup producers are doing well this year, the Links say interest outside the farming industry is growing.

"I see every year there is more and more people getting into maple production other than just the farming community just everyday people will begin to produce maple," Link said.

New York State is the nation's third biggest syrup producer, according to state data, and one of the local area's biggest events is right around the corner.

Over the next few days the Links will prepare for Maple Weekend when visitors from nearby county's will be invited to hear the sounds and see the sights of maple syrup collection.

Maple Weekend starts Saturday March 29 and continues March 30, running from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at a handful of local producers.

For more information on maple weekend, check out www.mapleweekend.com