RUPERT, Vt.—It’s not your imagination. The trees look terrible this fall.

Many folks are noticing the horrible appearance of the leaves on the maples in many areas of the Northeast. 

Trees have looked spotted and a dull yellowish brown. 

UVM Extension maple expert Mark Isselhardt said in the past couple of weeks he’s been fielding phone calls from worried producers.

Isselhardt said there is nothing unusual going on. Trees are mostly done making their sugar as of July.

He blamed most of the situation on the extreme wet weather we've had in the Northeast this summer.

He said latent leaf fungus has thrived in the moisture, affecting the trees.

“That looks like Anthracnose damage,” he told The Maple News, regarding photos from central Vermont.  

“It’s a fungal pathogen that will be more abundant in wet years as rain is the primary mode for the spores movement," he added.

Would it affect production next maple season?

“It should not have any meaningful impact on next year’s season,” Isselhardt said.