Rich Hines takes a sample of the maple syrup being produced at Springboro Tree Farms in Brookston, Indiana so he can test its sugar content Feb. 13, 2023. Springboro runs the raw maple sap through a reverse osmosis machine multiple times before starting to boil reducing the necessary boiling time from 50 hours to 12. Hines, who owns the farms, has worked with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement conservation practices on his 33 acres of his forestland in Brookston, Indiana. Hines used the forest for maple syrup production as well as recreation. Hines worked with NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to implement brush management, trail improvements and a forest management plan. He also utilized the Conservation Stewardship Program’s forest songbird habitat maintenance, forest stand improvement and tree planting enhancements. (NRCS photo by Brandon O’Connor)