tree lease prices

[bigstack]

I was wondering what people are paying per tap prices to land owners. I am was looking at a orchard that has 600+/- middle aged sugar maples south west exposure. However the land owner said the last guy was paying $.70 a tap and now the land owner wants $1.00 a tap. Both numbers seem wicked high to me. I might be stuck in the days of paying $.25 a tap. Most of the leases I have prefer syrup not cash. So what is the going rate?

[maple flats]

In 09 I paid $.45 and in '10 I paid $.50/tap. After attending a seminar given by Michael Farrel of Cornell I am considering paying $.75 this year (yes, I think I am likely higher than most but it is worth it to me. I am free to set my prices each year. I like the woods I tap and don't want to lose it, that is why I will consider that high.
I pay mine in both syrup and cash. I set the price (the landowner has never questioned the prices I set) and then ask how much they would like in syrup. I calculate the syrup value at retail (with the exception that I pay is qts but use the gal rate. After the syrup, I pay the balance in cash. It is agreed every year that the syrup will be paid in the season but the cash bal is to be paid before the end of May. We are both happy with this method. I currently only lease one bush but I have had other ones that were leased in the past and thse owners were also happy with my method. The only reason I no longer do the others is because of distance and tap potential, they were all either farther or much smaller and collection time was the factor making me drop them when I got the current bush.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

It depends on your access to taps also. If you need taps and can't get them somewhere else, then $ 1.00 @ tap is not high and is better than not making syrup but if you can get the same amount of taps somewhere else for a lower price, then you wouldn't want these is how I would look at it.

[Randy Brutkoski]

Bigstack, you need to remember the area that you are in. Syrup is everything there. With Bascoms right there the property owners in the area know that they can get the premium $ for there trees. At least you dont have to travel far to sell your bulk. I pay .75 per tap. Up in nothern vermont I have heard of poeple paying over a $1 per tap. Now that is a bit crazy. But from what i understand, it is all pretty much bragging rights to whoever makes the most syrup up there.

[bigstack]

Thanks for the input guess I needed a reality check on prices. I am still up in the air on the new orchard. The thing is it is not in my back yard, it is about a 25 min drive on lots of frost heaves. However the last guy was driving 40 min which makes me think it must be a good one. Guess I'll talk with landowner and see what kind of deal they are thinking.

[TapME]

Thanks for the input guess I needed a reality check on prices. I am still up in the air on the new orchard. The thing is it is not in my back yard, it is about a 25 min drive on lots of frost heaves. However the last guy was driving 40 min which makes me think it must be a good one. Guess I'll talk with landowner and see what kind of deal they are thinking.

Just my thought. Why is the other person not tapping? A dollar a hole and a 30 minute drive? If it was that easy the owner should think of selling sap and the largest part of the work would be done and he would make more money to boot. The Maple producers manual in the back has a lease agreement that if you haven't looked at you should consider.

[SSFLLC]

I would Check with some of the other sugar shacks in the area. I know that Clarks sugar shack is close to you. I know they less some trees. Stop and talk to David and see what he pays per tap.

[peckfarm]

Around central VT, bad access buckets=$.50-$.75, good access permanent lines $1.00-$1.25 with 10 year lease. Of course a successful businessman buys low and sells high.

[JuniperHillSugar]

Is it reasonable to deal with landowners at a price per gallon of sap? It seems that would share the benefit of a great season or the disappointment of a bad one with the landowner. I know some guys that have done that in my area.

It seems that rule number 1 is to work openly and honestly with the landowner, be respectful of their trees and they will be happy.

I tap about 75 on a neighbor and pay in syrup. They are really close by, so I just ask her what she would like. It works good for us.

[Thad Blaisdell]

To me it would depend on several things.

Is there power available

The number of taps available, the more each is worth.

Access is important too.

All of these things would contribute to the total I would pay. Without power no vacuum, less sap. Low number of taps....pain in the butt. Hard to get too, worth less.

Just things to consider. I would pay $1 per tap for the right woods.

[michiganfarmer2]

To me it would depend on several things.

Is there power available

The number of taps available, the more each is worth.

Access is important too.

All of these things would contribute to the total I would pay. Without power no vacuum, less sap. Low number of taps....pain in the butt. Hard to get too, worth less.

Just things to consider. I would pay $1 per tap for the right woods.

me too. Its tough to get peopole arouund here to let go of their precious saw logs

[bigstack]

The more I think about it the more I figure I am willing to pay for a decent sugar bush. $1 a tap is not really a bad deal if the trees are healthy and get good sun and are relatively easy to access. Guess my landowners will be happy! This leads me to another question that is more for a friend who is considering tapping a mostly red maple orchard, probably 4 reds to 1 sugar. What does everyone think would be a reasonable price. Total there is probably 300ish taps