SKOWHEGAN (AP) – U.S. syrup production fell 13 percent this year, with Maine’s production down 25 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The output in the 10 syrup-producing states totaled 1.26 million gallons, down from last year’s 1.45 million gallons, according to USDA statistics. Every state reported a decline in production.

Maine syrup makers turned out 225,000 gallons, down from 300,000 in 2006. That was good enough to be the No. 2 syrup-producing state ahead of New York, which made 224,000 gallons.

Vermont, the nation’s leading syrup producer, had 450,000 gallons, down 2 percent from last year’s 460,000 gallons. New Hampshire produced 60,000 gallons, down 6 percent from 2006.

Eric Ellis of Maine Maple Products in Madison, which has 75,000 maple taps, said his production fell 40 percent.

“With no carry-over from the year before, we are scrambling to find syrup to fill our contracts,” he said.

Jeremy Steeves, secretary of the Maine Maple Association, tapped 33,0000 trees this winter. He said irregular weather caused poor conditions for the industry.

“First it was too cold and then we got tons of snow,” he said. “The cold dragged the season into weather that became too warm. The snow melted in just a few days and that was the end of the season.”

The USDA statistics are generated through its maple syrup survey conducted in April and May.

Maine’s yield fell to 0.13 gallons per tap – a 25 decline from 2006. The yields also declined in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Nationally, syrup producers this year used 7.28 million syrup taps, about 19,000 more than in 2006. Vermont alone had 2.17 million taps.

The value of the 2007 syrup production won’t be released until next year, according to the USDA.