Vermonters never tire of maple syrup. And with such a warm winter, many sugarmakers in Vermont are following their instincts and beginning to produce their product ahead of schedule.

Maple syrup production last year was up 22 percent nationwide. And Vermont led the country producing 920,000 gallons of syrup. That's a 30 percent jump from the previous year.

Technology has changed the way Vermonters make maple syrup, especially in the last 50 years. We look back to the historic roots of sugaring and remember a few old traditions. Also, one Vermont coach gets ready for the Paralympics, which begin this weekend in Vancouver.

The sap is flowing in northern New England and officials say a spike in prices has encouraged more people to set up backyard maple syrup operations.

The University of Vermont and two private companies have developed a new device that they say might boost maple sap production as much as 90 percent. The small plastic spouts will allow sugarmakers to tap their trees earlier and keep the sap flowing longer into the season.

A White House report on climate change says two of Vermont's iconic industries are in trouble: winter sports and maple sugaring. As winters get warmer, the New England forest will change. And if greenhouse gas emissions stay high, the study warns that the prime area for maple production will shift north into Canada.

2009 has proven to be a record-setting year for maple syrup production in Vermont.

The state of Vermont is opening eight sites on state land to maple sugar making, giving interested syrup makers until July 10 to get their applications in.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is taking its campaign against Canadian seal harvesting to America, urging consumers to boycott Canadian-made maple syrup.

The logging industry is upset about a bill that would allow maple sugar makers to expand operations on state land.

The sap's still running in some parts of Vermont. But even where the maple sugaring season is over, there are reports that it was a good one.

For commentator Tom Slayton, the most potent sign of spring is a plume of steam - coming from the local sugarhouse.

The U.S. Forest Service is asking Northeast maple syrup producers to report signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. The insects bore dime-sized holes in hardwood trees, eventually killing them.

The state plans to help sugarmakers produce even more syrup next year.

A new agreement was signed today that will expand the number of state forests and parks where sugarmakers can tap trees for maple syrup production.

Two years ago a sugarmaker in Vermont might sell his syrup wholesale for about two dollars a pound. But demand for syrup has skyrocketed because it's being used in so many more products, including breakfast cereal. As the popularity of maple rises ... there is a shortage.

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.: A repeat drunk driver who killed a teenager in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 89 last year is going to prison; one year ago, a ferocious wind storm blew through Rutland, felling about 2,000 trees with winds of more than 60 miles per hour; Vermont's maple sugarmakers say they're having a good year;  Lyndon State College officials are planning a new student center and academic building...

Vermont's maple sugarmakers say they're having a good year. The quality of the syrup is high this year and production appears to be solid. VPR's Ross Sneyd has more on the sugar season that is coming to an end.

Sugarhouses across the state will be demonstrating the art of sugarmaking this weekend, and they'll open their doors to visitors. Rick Marsh is President of the Vermont Maple Sugarmakers' Association. He says it hasn't been a great year, but producers have planned ahead.

A meeting of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has just concluded in Rutland; the Vermont Supreme Court has saved some of its more contentious cases for a series of hearings today at Vermont Law School; more...