sap prices

[PARKER MAPLE]

Looking for prices, Im selling sap from a large sugarbush that im slowly setting up. Should have somewhere around 3000 +/- taps this year there. Anyways im looking to sell what I cant handle and was wondering if you could tell me what you were buy sap at per gallon this year? My sap tested at 2.5 apprx last season and im able to deliver it. I have 5-6 sugarhouses around my area all with in 1/2hr trip and just want to figure out the prices before I approached them. Thanks Alot any help greatly appreciated
MR

[spud]

Looking for prices, Im selling sap from a large sugarbush that im slowly setting up. Should have somewhere around 3000 +/- taps this year there. Anyways im looking to sell what I cant handle and was wondering if you could tell me what you were buy sap at per gallon this year? My sap tested at 2.5 apprx last season and im able to deliver it. I have 5-6 sugarhouses around my area all with in 1/2hr trip and just want to figure out the prices before I approached them. Thanks Alot any help greatly appreciated
MR

I sell all my sap for 65% of bulk price. This years bulk price for me was $2.97 LB This year my sap averaged 1.7% and that was .43 cents per gallon of sap. If your in an area where there is few sugar maker's and only one sap buyer then plan on getting screwed. Your buyer needs to be able to make a gallon of syrup with a quart of oil in order for him to pay you what you would need to make. If you have 5-6 other's in you area all wanting to sell sap then I would talk to the buyer as a group and strike up a fair deal for both of you not just a great deal for the buyer.

Spud

[jmayerl]

Man if we got those prices for sap here I would just sell it all and not make any syrup, great market for sap sellers out east. here it's 12.5 cents per gallon/ point. Doesn't matter if its 1%or 4%.

[PerryFamily]

Last year I paid 10cents over what Bascoms was paying. That was delivered to my sugar house and was based on sugar content. They will mail or fax you a copy of their price sheet. It was pretty nice to have your tanks full in only a few minutes and you were boiling. I figure the Bascom price is most likely a bottom line / wholesale price figure, therefore I had no problem paying 10 cents over that.
Good luck

[spud]

Man if we got those prices for sap here I would just sell it all and not make any syrup, great market for sap sellers out east. here it's 12.5 cents per gallon/ point. Doesn't matter if its 1%or 4%.

If I'm reading your post right you are saying that you get 12.5 cents per gallon no matter what the sap test. If thats the case I would water down all my sap making it just 1%. Someone should start up a sap buying business in their area that does not have one already. If your set up right you could pay an amount that is fair for both you and the sap seller. You would get more people in your area to maybe start-up small and sell to you. It's a great way to help others to get started and you will make some money doing it. If you treat people fair you will come out the winner in the end.

Spud

[Sdave]

Would anyone happen to know the going rate for sap in mid-Michigan (West Branch) Also the availability of sap in this area? I'm working on a plan that should put me in the sugar business next spring and this is the only variable I have. Thanks

[Thad Blaisdell]

If I'm reading your post right you are saying that you get 12.5 cents per gallon no matter what the sap test. If thats the case I would water down all my sap making it just 1%. Someone should start up a sap buying business in their area that does not have one already. If your set up right you could pay an amount that is fair for both you and the sap seller. You would get more people in your area to maybe start-up small and sell to you. It's a great way to help others to get started and you will make some money doing it. If you treat people fair you will come out the winner in the end.

Spud

he is saying 12.5 per point

1% 12.5
2% 25
etc

[jmayerl]

he is saying 12.5 per point
1% 12.5
2% 25
etc

Yup, what he said.

[spud]

Thanks guy's,

If thats the case why would you sell any sap at all? The buyer is either running a very poor operation or he is trying to screw the sap seller.

Spud

[Thad Blaisdell]

spud, you need to step back and read your own posts. You may find yourself in a very lucky position to get 65%. But that doesnt mean that other people are in the same boat. The person you are selling to was obviously set up to take it. I have to say if I could sell for 65% I might not even boil. No evap, no ro, no big sugarhouse... Just a truck and tank. zzzzzoooooommmmm. and off to bed. I personally would not pay 65% for sap, for the simple reason of all the money I would have to put out in order to handle it. Although I would say if I were set up to buy, the more someone brought the more it would be worth. You most definitly need a reality check in the buy and sell of sap. Not everywhere in the state are the maples as thick and bountiful as the area you are in. I am fortunate for my set-up and there are a few more like mine around me, but south of here its not as plentiful. Where rookie is it may not be as easy to buy/sell. So in conclusion get off your soap box and come down to reality and fell lucky you get what you get and dont feel that if someone else doesnt get that they are getting screwed.

[maplecrest]

dear spud, if you are based on 2.97 a pound that does not add up. if top price for fancy is 2.80! and then down the scale as the grade changes. and this year that was mid march, and some produces got 2.70 for the later stuff.i paid for sap that ended up down the drain. i will say that i would not buy sap at that price. no money to be made.

[Randy Brutkoski]

My payout for sap comes out to about 50% payout. I think that is about what most poeple are at.

[PARKER MAPLE]

So thank you guys for all the imput, Im thinking this should put me in the ball park. 1% 30cents p/gall 2% 40 cent p/gall 3% 50cent p/gall. If im understanding you guys right is this what the math works out to. I dont think its quite 50% like Randy says. Im also not looking to make alot of money this year just keep my obligations on the sugarbush and pay my expenses if poss. I should be able to handle it all myself next year but just cant find the money this year to do it all.

Thanks to everyone
MR

[Randy Brutkoski]

If i was to get 65% paid sap i probably wouldnt boil neither. I have never heard of it that high, but then again, to alot of the big guys up north it is just bragging rights to who makes more, from what i hear. just saying

[spud]

spud, you need to step back and read your own posts. You may find yourself in a very lucky position to get 65%. But that doesnt mean that other people are in the same boat. The person you are selling to was obviously set up to take it. I have to say if I could sell for 65% I might not even boil. No evap, no ro, no big sugarhouse... Just a truck and tank. zzzzzoooooommmmm. and off to bed. I personally would not pay 65% for sap, for the simple reason of all the money I would have to put out in order to handle it. Although I would say if I were set up to buy, the more someone brought the more it would be worth. You most definitly need a reality check in the buy and sell of sap. Not everywhere in the state are the maples as thick and bountiful as the area you are in. I am fortunate for my set-up and there are a few more like mine around me, but south of here its not as plentiful. Where rookie is it may not be as easy to buy/sell. So in conclusion get off your soap box and come down to reality and fell lucky you get what you get and dont feel that if someone else doesnt get that they are getting screwed.

Thad,

I see no need in you writing this foolish post ( your better then that )because you and I have talked about this before right here on Trader. I have said several times on Trader and to you that I would consider my self very lucky to live in Franklin County were it is common to get paid 65% for sap. I am very much aware that not everyone in Vermont gets that amount. What I have said time and again is that a sap buyer can offer whatever they want but it is not always a fair price. A fair price should be determined by the price of bulk syrup being paid to the buyer. If a guy has a real poor set-up and needs to use two gallons of oil to make one gallon of syrup then that does not mean the person selling the sap should have to take such a big hit in their price. What it does mean is that the buyer needs to ask himself if he really is set up for buying sap. If you and I were mining for gold and I had a back-hoe and you only had a shovel we should still get the same for our gold per ounce. The difference would be I would get more gold then you because I have the back hoe and can move more ground. If a guy has a 3x10 with no RO and can only boil 120 gallons per hour using oil then does that make my sap only worth .2 cents a gallon? Although everyone has the right to buy sap not everyone is set-up to buy sap and pay a fair price based on bulk price. It really does not matter where in Vermont you live because bulk syrup prices are very close to the same state wide. Sugaring equipment prices are close to the same state wide. Oil prices are very close to the same state wide. What I have said to you on other post is there are some sap buyer's in areas of the state that know they have no competition around them. These buyer's will then low ball the sap seller's because they know the sap seller's are in a pinch. If you treat people fair they will tell their friends about you and then it might open the doors for more business in the future. Quality sap has value and that value should be based on bulk syrup prices ONLY. So in conclusion I don't need a reality check and I don't need to get off a soap box. I bought and sold sap in the 80s and have a very good understanding of how it works. You have only been sugaring for three-four years and you still have a lot to learn. The question is ( are you willing to listen and learn? ).

Spud

[spud]

dear spud, if you are based on 2.97 a pound that does not add up. if top price for fancy is 2.80! and then down the scale as the grade changes. and this year that was mid march, and some produces got 2.70 for the later stuff.i paid for sap that ended up down the drain. i will say that i would not buy sap at that price. no money to be made.

Top price for Fancy is not $2.80 for everyone. If you are Organic then you get more money. Some get the big producers bonus which my sap buyer does. If you own your own stainless barrels you get a little more. It also depends on who you sell your syrup to. My price for sap this year was based on $2.97 per pound bulk price.

Spud

[Randy Brutkoski]

There is some place buying fancy for more than $2.80 a lb!!!!! I wish i knew where that place was because i have 17 barrells of fancy left. And i have my own barrells. Listen to Maplecrest, he has been making syrup for 85 years. Yes he is that old.

[maplwrks]

I hate to take sides as I agree with Thad, Randy, and Jeff.
But, Unfortunately, Franklin County is a bit of another world. You have great competition for sap, and you have Canadian buyers coming into the state to buy lots of syrup. These buyers are paying much more for their syrup than any packer in the states. The reason is confections---they are making tons of it and use lots of Fancy syrup! I have friends tied in with this buyer and they are paid handsomely for their product.

[maplecrest]

Thank you Randy, you got the 8 right! 8th generation sugar maker. But again Spud you were lucky. no sliding scale to be paid straight across the board at 2.97 for your whole crop.organic is a few more pennies but a lot of money out to be organic.yes pennies more for your own ss drum and the complete crop bonus of more than 3300 gallons.this all adds up if you had a great year.yes i buy sap on a sliding scale by grade[bascoms guide]. i had a very short hot 9 day season. alot of producers had little to no crop.

[PARKER MAPLE]

If I call Bascoms can I get a copy of this scale-guide for myself? I would like to look at one for next year.
Thanks fellas. Hope this topic didnt start any trouble im really not a pot sterer lol

[spud]

Thank you Randy, you got the 8 right! 8th generation sugar maker. But again Spud you were lucky. no sliding scale to be paid straight across the board at 2.97 for your whole crop.organic is a few more pennies but a lot of money out to be organic.yes pennies more for your own ss drum and the complete crop bonus of more than 3300 gallons.this all adds up if you had a great year.yes i buy sap on a sliding scale by grade[bascoms guide]. i had a very short hot 9 day season. alot of producers had little to no crop.

Hey maplecrest,

To become Organic it only cost me $500.00 for a forest plan. The person I sell sap to has me under his name because he is the one boiling the sap. If I should ever boil myself then the organic inspector would have to come back and it would cost me a little more. Organic pays .8 cents more. The other .9 cents extra comes from owning ss drums and getting a big producer rate. Your right in saying there is no sliding scale. $2.97 is for Fancy and med amber then it;s $2.87 for dark amber and $2.65 for Grade B. I was able to get 60,000 gallons of light this year. I did get another 30,000 of mostly unusable sap. Although the sap was as clear as water most would not boil quality syrup. Lets hope for a better next year.

Spud

[syrup2nv]

We are paying $0.50/gal of sap delivered to our sugar house. We are in Bennington County. Just saying.......

[Randy Brutkoski]

Well i am paying less than that. just sayin

[spud]

We are paying $0.50/gal of sap delivered to our sugar house. We are in Bennington County. Just saying.......

That is a fair price for quality sap. You see it is not just in Franklin County that pay fair prices. I bet your making $200-300 per hour on that .50 sap.

Spud

[syrup2nv]

We feel if we pay on the high side of the scale, then the sap producers will expand their taps and bring more sap!! Only time will tell.

[spud]

I think you hit the nail right on the head with your thinking. Very good business for both you and the sap seller's. At .50 per gallon the sap seller needs to wonder if boiling on their own is even worth it. I think you will build up a great reputation in your area as being to guy to go to. I would post on Craigslist and get the word out. I would also let your local sugaring supply store know what you are doing. There could be people in the area that have 1000 taps in their backyard that will now set up their woods knowing your buying sap at a fair price. This will give more business to the sugaring supply store also. Everybody wins when people treat each other fair. I wish you and your business the best. Please keep us posted.

Spud

[GeneralStark]

We are paying $0.50/gal of sap delivered to our sugar house. We are in Bennington County. Just saying.......

Regardless of the sugar content and quality?

[Thad Blaisdell]

At .50 per gallon I would not even be interested in it. The expense of expanding tanks and RO, would far out pace the gain. You guys can have it. You are looking at $21.50 if it were 2%. 1% would cost you more than you will make. ($43.00). Now even at 2%, you pay out all the fuel and power and time expense, buy the barrels, and all the hassle no thanks just to make lets just say it may come out to $5.00 per gallon. So on 1000 taps at .5gpt you might make a whopping $2500, if the sap averages 2% if it is less you may actually spend money to have the priveledge of boiling. If someone were to have wanted mine for that before I bought all the equipment I sure would have sold it to them.

[spud]

First of all lets let Syrup2nv answer the question. He did not say he was paying .50 cent a gallon for any quality sap of any sugar content. The guy I sell sap to makes About $8.00 a gallon on bought sap. On average he draws off about 100 gallons per hour. That adds up to $800.00 profit per hour for him. For next year he is going to buy sap from three of us sap sellers for a total of about 25,000 taps. If the three of us average .4gpt that will give him 10,000 gallons of syrup from bought sap and a profit of $80,000 dollars. It would have taking him 100 hours to boil the sap and the same to pay someone to run the filter presses. Now I don't know about you guy's but I would have no problem working 100 extra hours in the sugarhouse if I knew I was going to get $80,000 dollars. I also know that if you want to set yourself up to buy sap you will make money even paying 70% for the sap (Read Steve Childs guide). The key here is you need to be set up right. Sap value should not be based on ones set up. Sap has real value and it should be between 60-70% of bulk price.

Spud

[Thad Blaisdell]

Bulk syrup is at 2.89 for fancy and med. 70%=22.25 pg Roughly leaving $9.53. Only for the best.

To boil 25,000 taps you need,

Large evaporator = roughly 40-50k
8 post ro at min = 60+k
filter press 20in = 10+k
tanks = 25k
truck to haul = ????? not cheap
300 barrels = 60k
building =
electricity = 5k? per year
fuel =15k
taxes on prop = 2-3k?
sap hauling = who knows not free
etc etc etc papers filter aid, repairs,

So now lets say you do this, then what happens when you spud gets mad about something and decides to boil yourself. Then maybe another guy does the same.
$80,000 is not a realistic number. Then what happens when you have a year like last year. That becomes $40,000 minus expenses then you have to pay your bills. As stated earlier for me not worth it.

Now if you owned the equipment, and had room and everything was paid for I guess you could get away with it. But to boil it just so you could boil it, no thanks

[spud]

Thad, I don't think anyone in their right mind would set up a sugarhouse just to buy sap. They would be taking a big chance if they did. The people that are buying sap already are set up with their own taps. So yea I would not want to count on someone else's sap (alone) to pay my bills. My sap buyer was already set up with his 35,000 tap operation. Just that alone pays for all the equipment he has in his sugarhouse and then gives him a handsome profit. For him then to go out and buy sap is just easy money. His rig is boiling 575 gallons per hour at 15% which gives him 100 gallons of syrup per hour. If he runs 20% then he gets 133 gallons per hour. Setting yourself up with the right RO is the key to this whole operation. Yes he needs to buy enough tanks to handle the incoming sap but with the right RO set-up he can handle it. All the other items you mention are things that the sap buyer already would have. Please keep in mind also that if you use $15,000 in fuel oil it's only because you just made $25,000-30,000 in profit on your bought sap. As far as barrels go many suppliers lend these out for the season so there would be no cost unless you wanted to buy your own. Although buying sap is not for everyone those who are set-up to take on the extra sap can make a nice income for themselves and still pay 60-70% for the sap.

Spud

[mapleack]

Another additional way to look at it is that the boiler is better utilizing his investment. If the 40k evaporator fires for 6 hours per day on his own sap, then another 6 hrs per day on bought sap, he still spent the same amount buying the rig, the only additional cost is the extra fuel and labor. The same view applies to RO, tanks, etc. If we're spending huge amounts of money on equipment, why not run it 20 hours a day for a month long season instead of 6 hours? I'd say that equals a better return on investment, provided you can make a profit based on price paid for sap.

[spud]

Another additional way to look at it is that the boiler is better utilizing his investment. If the 40k evaporator fires for 6 hours per day on his own sap, then another 6 hrs per day on bought sap, he still spent the same amount buying the rig, the only additional cost is the extra fuel and labor. The same view applies to RO, tanks, etc. If we're spending huge amounts of money on equipment, why not run it 20 hours a day for a month long season instead of 6 hours? I'd say that equals a better return on investment, provided you can make a profit based on price paid for sap.

This post is like music to my ears. It's nice to know their are some Traders with a business head on their shoulders that can think this stuff out. Thank you.

Spud

[syrup2nv]

Regardless of the sugar content and quality?

nothing lower than 1.5%. Must be clear, clean, no smell!

Fill out the log book with starting count on meter, pump through my flow meter (gals), then wright down ending total and sign your name. Payout on Fridays!! Seems to work for us.

More Sap = More Syrup.

[Thad Blaisdell]

Spud,

Why would you even begin to say that. What an arogant and spiteful thing to say. As far as business sense if it is such a good and great plan and people are making a fortune, how come you are not doing it? I will put my business sense up against most anybody anyday. From what I can gather its more about bragging rights than profit. To each his own. But there is no way the profit is as good as you make out. no way.

[Thad Blaisdell]

nothing lower than 1.5%. Must be clear, clean, no smell!

Fill out the log book with starting count on meter, pump through my flow meter (gals), then wright down ending total and sign your name. Payout on Fridays!! Seems to work for us.

More Sap = More Syrup.

So at 1.5 you are paying 28.67 to make a gal of syrup. That is just plum crazy. That is not sound business. If you were closer I would sell you all of my sap that was under 1.7 for sure. more money than boiling and easier. You may want to take a good look at those numbers.

[spud]

Spud,

Why would you even begin to say that. What an arogant and spiteful thing to say. As far as business sense if it is such a good and great plan and people are making a fortune, how come you are not doing it? I will put my business sense up against most anybody anyday. From what I can gather its more about bragging rights than profit. To each his own. But there is no way the profit is as good as you make out. no way.

Thad- By you saying there is no way the profit is as good as I say, tells me right off your business sense is not good. It also means that people like Steve Childs has it all wrong and he does not know what he is talking about. With the right set-up the profit is good because I know people that do it. You ask why I'm not doing it if the profit is so good. You already know the answer to your own question but here's why. One year ago I moved back to Vermont from Alaska after being gone for some time. My wife and I bought our home with a 6500 tap sugar woods that was not set up. I was able to get 5000 taps set up in time for sugaring last year and now almost done setting up the other 1500 taps. I have about $50,000 in setting up the 6500 taps and my next plan was to build a new sugar house and fully equip it. Two things caused me to hold off on doing that though. First is we had the worst sugaring season in 20+ years so I did not make as much as I hoped for. Second is our neighbor put his 60 acre lot up for sale and it has about 3000 taps on it and then some nice building lots for our kids in the future. We had to buy the lot because we would be kicking ourselves if we did not. The new lot will allow me to build a new sugar house right on the road and have all 9500 taps go right into it. The future plan is to build a sugar house and equip it to not only boil my sap but also to buy sap from local sugar maker's. I plan to pay 70% of bulk price for sap and i know I will make money doing it. The reason I know this is because I learn from people that are already doing this. I listen to people with knowledge and thats how I learn. By you saying (you would put your business sense up against most anybody's) is a pretty bold statement. Because I like you I am going to leave that statement alone. I am making a constant effort to better myself as a sugar maker. The way I do this is by asking a lot of questions and listening to people that know more then me. I have learned a lot from people right here on Trader. I also read everything that Proctor Maple and Cornell write on sugaring. I humble myself before those who know more then me and thats how I learn. I don't think people buy sap for bragging rights. I think they buy sap because they have a set-up that can handle more then what they make in their own woods. They look at buying sap as easy money.

Spud

[syrup2nv]

Spud,

Keep up the hard work!!
Some people dream of success, while other get up and work hard at it!


Thad,
Keep doing it your way and I will do the same. My numbers are solid!! I can assure you that Im not losing money! I was not looking for a pissing contest, simply stating that good prices are paid for sap outside of Frankling County.

[Thad Blaisdell]

So Spud, if someone doesnt agree with you then they must be wrong that is what I am reading. And then you make it personal, why is that. So let me get this straight, If you have over 30,000 taps and all the equipment this is profitable. This is only going to work for less than 5% of the sugarmakers out there. Way less. You know that we can agree to disagree without making it personal. For me this would not work, for you maybe it would. This does not make my business sense any worse or better than yours. I just dont see the profit margin large enough to bother.

[spud]

Thad, There are people that disagree with me on things and they are right and I am wrong. Although what you have been saying is if a person buys sap at 60-70& of bulk price they are not making enough profit to make it worth while. This is where you are wrong and others would be right. The studies from Cornell suggest one can make over $1000.00 per hour profit with the right set up. I know sugar makers that make this kind of money buying sap. You are the one making this topic personal because you are saying it can't be done even though it is being done. What you should be doing is reading the studies and learning from them. It also would not hurt to talk to sugar makers that are buying sap and making money at it. There are people right here on Trader that buy sap and make money. Some are posting and saying they are doing well with buying sap. I have been told by sap buyer's that it is the easiest money they ever made. You don't need 30,000 taps to make a profit in buying sap. What you do need is the right set-up. The studies show that the bigger the rig the more money per hour you stand to make. Keep in mind though that without 15% sap or higher going into that rig you might not make any money at all. So the rig and the RO are the two most important items for a sap buyer. The size of your rig and the amount you can draw off in an hour will determine how much money you would make per hour. The Cornell study gives a break down on how much you would make on different size rigs. Your operation looks to be real nice and I know you have said you draw off about 70-80 gallons per hour. I also remember you saying that you use less then 1/2 gallon of oil per gallon of syrup. If this is correct then all you might need to do is add more post to your RO and let people bring their sap to you. You might find yourself making $500.00-1000.00 per hour doing it. Please don't take my post so personal and get so uptight over them.

Spud

[village idiot]

Could this be a situation where 2 people are talking truthfully and honestly about their own life experiences but the situations are just different between them? Neither situation is better/worse or wrong/right. Something that works for one would be foolhardy for the other.

The beauty of sugaring is how similar everyone is. Big guys, little guys, huge producers and backyard-ers all essentially do the same thing so I think these message boards are a great way to help each other out. This doesn't mean that everything that is profitable for Bascoms will be profitable for me.

Kum-by-ya mother****ers

[Randy Brutkoski]

I have missed most of this thread but spud, are you saying you will pay out 60 to 70% at bulk price to a gallon of syrup? I pay on the average of 47% for sap. Its too bad i dont live closer to you. I would sell all of my equipment and sell you my sap. If i bought sap at 70% payout, about a dozen sugarmakers in the area would end up selling there sap to me and then after a year i would have to sell my equipment because i would be broke. Out of that 30% profit margin you are making, you are really only making probably 15%. Power, fuel, or wood, if you need to pay your help, filter aid, press papers, soap for R.O, defoamer,pre filters for R.O, did i say power, acid for your pans, more filter aid, a nagging wife because it is 4 in the morning and you are not in bed yet, and all of the other problems that come up and cost money. This is money you need to take in consideration when buying sap and if you dont you will be bankrupt in a couple of years unless you have rich parents like Thad does. Never undercut yourself. We all work too hard to make this stuff.

[Thad Blaisdell]

First, when I disagree it is not personal, but when someone states that someone else has poor business sense that is personal.

I boil at a rate of 150 gph (syrup) RO to 20%. That is not the issue for me.

A study by cornell does not mean that the same thing will work for someone else, that is a fact. I am going to guess that if someone else wanted different results you would get different results, that is just the nature of the beast. That is like saying I saw it on TV it must be true. There are several things out of cornell and proctor I dont whole heartedly agree with. That is not to say that I dont think that they have done great things for the industry because they absolutley have.

Even if someone has the equipment, you add 25,000 taps on (bought sap) you need more and bigger equipment. for that many taps you need a min of 8 posts. 60k plus, you need more storage, you need more help, if you go get it you need trucking, you need fuel, you need barrels, you need more of everything. Just to boil that much you need time. Now maybe the guy that buys yours already has people on payrole and he is just keeping them on and keeping them busy,,,,, maybe he already owns a truck, and maybe one truck is enough to haul all of that sap.... maybe. But you are still talking significant expense. Right down to cleaning/replacing membranes. Its not for everyone, I would be on that list, you it seems it works great for. But this will not work for everyone. And to say it does or will is wrong. I guess I would say that anyone that wants to buy sap should set their prices at whatever rate they feel is worthwile to them.

[maple flats]

Mike Farrel Director of the Uihlein (Cornell) Maple Research center, near Lake Placid has a study and interactive chart helping producers to determine the profitability of buying sap. I did last year and plan to again. The main point seems to be whether the producer has unused capacity. If you are maxed on your equipment it is a no go, if you have equipment you are trying to grow into, buying can be profitable. Mike actually points out that you can make more $/hr buying sap than you can expanding your sugar bush. The down side is that you lose some quality control, supply control and timeliness of deliveries.
What I bought, was only bought when I had time and storage capacity unused and it was all delivered to the sugarhouse on my schedule. I did not buy all that was offered. I pay according to the Maple Digest published prices which are based on 50/50 split of bulk, medium A estimated prices, before the season. If I had greater capacity I would buy even more. When buying sap your money is made in the sugarhouse, when processing your own sap, your money is made in the woods, maintaining lines, checking for leaks, running new and replacing old lines. As I get older the purchased sap starts looking even better and better.

[delivron]

I am really surprised no one has referenced this information on the Cornell web site about the subject of buying and selling sap.
http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/SapBuying2010_files/ShouldYouBuySap.pdf

You can even find a calculator for Excel spread sheets at:
http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/sapbuying.htm


Also:
Franklin County Vermont Maple School! Franklin County Maple Sugarmakers Assoc. will be hosting this event on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the Franklin County Field Days site. Vendors will be setup for a trade show and there will be seminars and classes throughout the day. Our list of Speakers and classes are as follows:

Mike Farrell – Buying and Sell Sap