How many trees do you have per acre?

[thirsty07]

Hello everyone,

I am in the process of writing an 'executive statement' so that I can get a small business loan to help jump start my sugaring operation. I have explained the whole process and the equipment needed and have come to the part where i need to put into numbers how much money can be made. I have syrup prices for the last several years, production averages (gallons of syrup per tap based on my proposed set-up and previous seasons totals) but since this is a fresh stand that has never been tapped before I dont have accurate numbers on the number of trees and taps i might have.

I do plan on getting out and taking random 1/10th acre samples and assuming the rest of the woods is similiar. But, I was wondering how many trees and taps per acre other vermont sugarbush's have. I have seen some people posts, and they have upwards of 100 taps per acre at times. Any information would be very helpful.

Crossing my fingers for REALLY high numbers :)

[ennismaple]

For your business case I'd do a range of densities - from say 50 taps per acre to 100. Once your spreadsheet is set up its easy to manipulate for a different density to calculate the payback period.

[PapaSmiff]

Matt,

I asked a similar question in January. Here's the link:
http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?t=6864&highlight=acre

What I derived from the replies is a range of 50 to 70 taps per acre in an average sugarbush. Some were higher in a sugarbush that's been managed for many years or decades. Others were lower in wooded areas that were not really "developed" as a sugarbush.

[maple flats]

What is the maple density? Is it spotty or is there a good number of tappable trees in the bush? If a good density you will get 50-75 taps/acre typically. If the trees are too dense you will do better thinning and then tapping rather than tapping every maple you see. A properly thinned stand will give you more sugar. I would guess 60-70 taps average for your spreadsheet. Good luck.

[thirsty07]

There are definately a good number of maples, I have only been in one other sugar bush and compared to that one it is equal and or greater density in most areas. It is mostly hardwoods exclusively for 90%, and around the edges mixes in some softs.

Thanks PapaSmiff for that link, i ended up reading (and understanding as much as i could) of that link from Dr Tim Perkins response.

[Revi]

Our sugarwoods have a lower density of maples, but there are parts that have lots of money trees, like red oaks that we'll cut for our "retirement cut" in about 5 or 6 years. We have some Bangor loam on the top couple of acres of the woodlot, and in that area we may have 70 taps per acre, but the rest of it is Monarda soil, and is not ideal for maples. We use it all for firewood and other activities as well, so it's okay by me. We'll probably end up with around 500 taps when they all grow in. That's plenty for us.

[3rdgen.maple]

Why not just get out in the woods and do a tap count? Then you would have your answer to your own question. Just count up the tap potential with the largest amount of maples on one acre then go do the lowest potential on another acre, add it all up divide by 2 and get an average tap count for your woods.

[brookledge]

That is what I was going to suggest. It won't take that long to walk it to get a tap count.
Or at the very least count out one acre. If you pace out or measure out roughly 210'X210' that will be close enough.
Keith

[RC Maple]

I was wondering just how many sugar maples I had in the woods too. I ordered some tags that I could write on and tagged all of the trees with a number for each of them along with the date and their size. I also have it written in a notebook in case the squirrels like the shiny metal and can get them off the trees.

[waysidemaple]

WHen I walked my woods I used orange marking tape on the single tap trees and pink on two tap trees and for the few that will take three I put orange and pink tape around it. The different color tape really helps when you start running laterals because you can easily count out and keep with your strive for five if your doing vacuum.