New Guy

[Tigermaple]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new here and new to sugaring. I'm planning on starting up an operation next year from scratch. I own tractors, chainsaws and 75 acres of mature sugar maple trees on a gentle slope. I am a woodworker and have raised these trees for lumber with no thought of syrup until this year. Lumber prices are down and syrup prices are up, at least that is what I hear about the syrup. I have some broad questions before I go hog wild; 1, Roughy how much would a typical set up cost with tubing, tanks, taps and an evaporator, nothin too fancy? And what would one expect to make cash wise? I plan on doing 30 acres 1st. I did a tree count and there is at least 1200 maples 16" in diameter. 90% are sugar 10% red maple. Just ball park figures are fine.
Thanks, Pat

[spencer11]

with 1200 taps...i would think a 2.5x8 evaporator. maybe an RO. probably about 3-4000 gallons of storage? canner, finisher, bulk storage, tubing, vacuum? the list goes on..but i would think if you could find some good used stuff 7-8000 maybe more. personally i would start with about 300-500 taps and then go from there. with 1,200 taps on a good year you could expect maybe around 500 gallons of syrup. at $40 a gallon average thats $20,000. i dont know how acurate it is but it might be a ballpark.. there really isnt that great of a way to figure it out execpt to find everything you need and price it out, or start buying stuff.

spencer

[500592]

Ya but you need a place to boil cause you don't want a 3 or 5000 dollar evap sitting outside unprotected and the shack is where the money is.

[PerryW]

A 4x12 evap/ would probably handle 1200 gravity taps. You could probably make 200-300 gallons per season and go through 15 or 20 cords of softwood using a conventional wood fired evaporator. If you used high-vacuum, you may be able to almost double the those numbers.

You could also get your feet wet by getting a 3x8 and setting about 600 taps on gravity. Then after a couple years, get and RO machine and tap all 1200 on high vacuum.

[Tigermaple]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry to be slow, but what is an RO? The plan is to expand the operation every year. Firewood is no problem round here and we have access to lots more acreage so I want to do it right. If vacuums can double flow than that's what i want to do, if it does not harm the tree. The shack is not built yet, but the materials and know how are on site. I'm looking at this as an investment/part-time job that can be handed to the kids.

[SSFLLC]

Hi Tigermaple, Glad to see you on the trader. I would check out other sugar shacks within the same range you are talking about. You probably don't want to see what somebody with 100 taps is doing. If you plan on 1200 or more. As PerryW said a 3x8 to start with. Than an RO because your boiling 10 hours at a time and looking to add taps. As for income go by the bulk price everything else is extra at this point. Don't for get the building in figuring your price ( always go bigger than you think you need). Now with all that said. You can find complete setups that people are getting rid of. Either because there getting bigger or smaller. This is just my thoughts. I do not have 1200 taps so wait for the guys with that type of sugarbush. Keith

[spencer11]

an RO (reverse osmosis) takes alot of the water out of the sap. so you dont have to boil as longer. a vacuum wont hurt the tree and increases production. im gonna go with vacuum on 130 of my taps next year. a rule of thumb is to build the shack twice the size you think you need. i find that alot of kids dont do it so if you can get yours into it would be pretty neat to have them show there friends. i use sugaring as a part time "job". but dont really make any profit yet.

spencer

[PerryW]

RO is reverse osmosis. A stsyem that will remove 2/3 of the water from your sap so your boiling goes much quicker. They use high pressure pumps that force the sap through membranes to remove water.

[Dill]

I have some broad questions before I go hog wild; 1, Roughy how much would a typical set up cost with tubing, tanks, taps and an evaporator, nothin too fancy?


Depends how much money ya got?

[500592]

I have some broad questions before I go hog wild; 1, Roughy how much would a typical set up cost with tubing, tanks, taps and an evaporator, nothin too fancy?


Depends how much money ya got?
Good answer I do think there is 4x12 in the classifieds

[Tigermaple]

I'm heading out to see a few operations today. This idea is already taking a life of it's own. Is there a trade show you guys like to attend?

[Dill]

One question that's important will you be running it yourself or with plenty of help. If a solo show, your probably better off with a smaller rig and an RO. Not sure if one person could deal with a big evap by themselves. Actually I'll be able to tell you that better later in the season, a guy down the road is running a 5x14 by himself.

[happy thoughts]

I'm heading out to see a few operations today. This idea is already taking a life of it's own. Is there a trade show you guys like to attend?

Get on the Cornell maple program mailing list. They run workshops throughout the year and they should be right in your neighborhood.

http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/

You might also want to get on the Bascom mailing list. They run open houses, in the fall I believe. Could be a nice leaf drive:)

[3fires]

Welcome to the addiction Pat.

[twocanines]

Welcome to the board Pat. I have been eating the stuff for more than 50 years but have learned more about it in the last month right here reading through the posts. Seems to me one of the answers to a question you had might be to ask yourself how creative do you want to get? A lot of people here are building their own stuff and showing you just how to do it.

Nice to see you thinking about syrup too. Once your trees go for lumber they are gone. But you'll likely be able to tap them for the rest of your life.