low sugar content?

[03weim]

anyone feel like there is a low sugar content this year I don't have a hydrometer to test sap but it feels like we are boiling more sap this year and making less syrup almost 100 gallons to make 1.75 gallons of syrup:confused:

[sfsshadow]

we boiled 1700gl. of sap, today. 1.7% syrup was on the dark side of med.

[40to1]

Please don't let your trees tell my trees that they can have low sugar....

Overall my trees are hitting at least 2%. A handful are doing 2.5, some more at doing almost 3. And one is doing 4%! This is up a notch or two over last year.

The sap hydrometer doesn't get much use, but when needed, it's nice to have....

[wcproctor]

Just went out to get all my sap and tested the sugar and 10 5 gallon buckets all tested at .5%, what the f@*#, so I just dumped them. Not worth wasting the wood.:cry: Im going out to check the rest. Ill let you know.

[Armstrong]

I boiled on Saturday and had a 50:1 ratio, low sugar content as well.

[Farmboy]

Im getting 2-2.5%. I talked to a big producer on saturday and he said there only getting 1.5% and all he taps is sugar maples. Seems like everyone is getting different #s this year. My friend taps only swamp maples and made half a gallon of syrup off 18 gallons of sap.

[ejmaple]

ya the sugar % sucks here too !! 1.3% on this past run

[wcproctor]

collected 40 Gal this morning and all Sugar maples, they were all 2%. Dumped over 30 Gal of .5 . Dam if we do or dam if we don't.

[Dill]

I'm seeing under 2 as well. Hoping its just my sap hydro got bumped in the off season but I'm afraid not.

[morningstarfarm]

been a wierd year here for sugar content...its been ranging from 2.5-4.5%..depending on the day. now, disclaimer...these are all huge crowned roadside trees in direct sun...my few woods trees havent done much at all...:rolleyes:

[ejmaple]

wow just got in from checking sap % at every tank location and good news the sugar has jumped up from this past weekends run. most were 1% higher than before. i think i jumped the gun on being so pissed at the low sugar and i should have thought about it and relized how much ice was locked up in the tanks and melted over the weekend. :rolleyes: also saps running hard, will be the biggest run to date for the year.

[70 Buick]

we need diabetic trees that don't take their medicine LOL

[brookledge]

I boiled for the first time this year on Sunday and my sap was 2.5% The first sap I got in Feb when I was tapping was 1.8%
Keith

[Rossell's Sugar Camp]

Pa has low sugar content too. I have an awful 1.5 - 1 percent in the last week. All hard maples too.

[whalems]

I collected my first sap of the season in northern Michigan and it was right at 2%:)

[Gary R]

It's been low for me in western PA. I've collected about 1500 gal. so far. All has been 1 - 1.3%:(

[Tithis]

Well the results from my first boiling make were not very good. I'd estimate my sap is averaging at 1.4%.

I am glad to know its not just my trees that are low. Hoping the sap I'm collecting now for my second boiling will be more higher.

[cpmaple]

Just got done boiling 80 gallons of sap off and i tested it prior to start up and i was reading 2.5 better then my first back in feb is was 1.4 then lot better but would like some more to help me on the boiling end of things. cpmaple

[03weim]

At least we are not the only ones with low sugar, I think I may buy a sap hydrometer for next year, right now I am waiting to see how our second boil goes

[red maples]

I am in seacoast NH but in Feb I got some that was <1% and got some 2% yesterday. but that was mixed with some 1+ %. I didn't check todays though I did get a little sap even though it was chilly. I hope the sugar increases a bit.

[wcproctor]

Checking buckets today and had 5+ with 0% and the rest were 1%. I just don't get it. And The Sugars are 2%. Can someone give us a reason? What the f.

[maple connection]

It will get better, give it alittle time. Its like a bear in hibernation. They don't come out of the den running it takes them afew day for there body to function at 100% ,Same for the tree's. Good luck and have fun!!!

[Dill]

I got some 2% and bit above today but all the tanks slush in them at least.

[mapleman3]

My roadside trees on buckets giving 2.5-2.8 while my tubing on trees in my north salem woods with full snow are at 1.8-2.0. I'm. Hoping the snow around the trees starts to open up and let the roots warm up.

[talahi maple products]

Collected about 500 gallons friday 2.5% , Saturday got all the bugs worked out of the "new to me" 2x8 evaporator". Sunday Boiled 7 gallon real nice med amber . Gonna wire in a reostat for the blower tonight (to much air) & finish off the 150 or so Gallons I have left. so far so good:)

[tonyw]

I'm not far from wcproctor and I'm seeing similar miserable numbers. Could a cause the huge amount of snow we (in central Mass) received this year?

[foursapssyrup]

our last 2 sap collections were at about 1-1.5% on the hydrometer. before that they were around 2-2.5%.

see what happens this week.

[GramaCindy]

Can one use a syrup hydrometer to come somewhat close to the sugar content of sap???

[foursapssyrup]

Can one use a syrup hydrometer to come somewhat close to the sugar content of sap???

not that i know of, the syrup hydrometers only go down to about 30 brix

[tonyw]

not that i know of, the syrup hydrometers only go down to about 30 brix

Then what should be used to measure sap?

[ejmaple]

a sap hydrometer