DANVILLE, Ind. – Maple trees are the target of those who seek sap to make maple syrup. But syrup from walnut trees? Believe it.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) award winner Jonathan Elrod will inform attendees that black walnut syrup production has proven to be feasible, even tasty. Elrod is one of 27 presenters at the Indiana Small Farm Conference, March 4-5, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville. The conference includes speakers and a trade show for small and diversified farmers.

Elrod is owner of the Rusted Flatbed Farm, a 13-acre leased urban agroforest on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Elrod began operating the farm the last five years. He hand-cleared the understory of grapevines and invasive species such as Asian honeysuckle, Russian olive and flora rose.

“I have planted native species including a plantation of 180 black walnut saplings, we well as pecans and hazel huts. In 2021, I began maple syrup production, tapping 40 to 50 trees and bottling six to nine gallons of maple syrup.

“Black walnuts are one of the few trees that have pure sugar sap,” Elrod said. “When you tap a walnut tree, the sap is different, and you’d expect to have that maple flavor. Instead, it’s a bit of a butterscotch flavor. It has none of the flavors that you would associate with eating a plain black walnut. The sap of this tree is not pungent.”

Elrod says the maple and black walnut sugar content is the same, both at 2 percent.

“You would need two to three times the walnut trees to get the same amount of sap you’d get from maple trees,” he said.

Elrod said black walnut syrup commands a substantial premium over maple syrup, $10-$15 for two ounces of black walnut versus a pint of maple syrup. He also points out that making black walnut syrup is more difficult than maple syrup because black walnuts produce less sap. He adds that black walnut trees should be tapped later in the season and may require differently shaped taps, and the use of vacuum tubing could quadruple sap collection.

“People who have big walnut stands are growing them for timber production and are not inclined to let people drill holes in them,” he added.

Elrod is a lifetime member of the Indiana Nut and Fruit Growers Association and board member of the Indiana Maple Syrup Association.

Also at the conference, Ariana Torres, associate professor of ag economics, and Jean Pierre Varela, Purdue University graduate assistant, will help guide farmers when it comes to the business side of things with their talk entitled “Smart Pricing Strategies with HortCalculator.”

“I designed this tool after realizing that farmers need to understand the importance of all the information out there that affects them and their buyers,” Torres said. “I developed this HortCalculator to help farmers develop an enterprise budget. It is tailored to each separate farm operation.”

The HortCalculator will show farmers the profitability ahead and prospective financial indicators to help them make decisions that are based on research.

“At the conference I will discuss their own HortCalculator tool to showcase the impacts of the farmer’s decisions on pricing,” Torres said. “We’ll discuss the break-even price they’ll have to charge when they sell their particular product. The HortCalculator will also tell them price structure they need, whether they’re selling at a farmers market, a restaurant, wholesaler or a retailer. Every customer will require a different pricing strategy. Their price is based on their operational cost.”

The conference’s keynote speaker will be Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley. Farmer Cee is the founding CEO of Green Heffa Farms in Liberty, N.C. It produces more than 40 varieties of herbs, medicinal plants and loose-leaf herbal teas. Farmer Cee will share her expertise in business and sustainable agriculture.

James Farmer, of Twin Springs Creamery in Bloomington, Ind., will discuss small-scale dairying and will explain the industry forces, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for those entering the dairy industry.

Evan and Mimi Kokoska, of Zionsville, Ind., will lead a discussion about truffles and explain ways to establish a truffle orchard. Kris Heeter, biologist at Indiana University, will share with attendees the sustainable methods for growing figs in the Midwest.

“Attendees can look forward to great educational sessions, networking with other farmers,” said Amy Thompson, event co-chair and Purdue Beginning Farmer coordinator. “Attendees can choose sessions from nine different tracks, including vegetable production, livestock, business and urban agriculture. Speakers include farmers and Purdue Extension experts with firsthand experience working with small and diversified farms.”

Phil Cox, Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Vermillion County, said, “The trade show is a great opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products and services in a relaxed atmosphere to unique clientele.”

Attendee registration is open online through Feb. 25. Attendees may register for one or both days, with one day costing $85 and both days $155. Lunch is included in the registration fee. On-site registration will be available for the same prices, but meals will not be included. To register or learn more about the event go to puext.in/SFC25Attendees.

The Hendricks County Fairgrounds is at 1900 E. Main St., Danville, Ind.