Any benefit to tapping this weekend?

[Birdland Sugarbush]

With at least a week of cold temps in the forecast, is there any benefit of tapping now vs. waiting until next weekend?

I usually put in @ 35 taps, all buckets.

[Greyfox]

I'm a small hobby operator as well, and here's my take on it. If you're using new taps there's no particular disadvantage to tapping early. With used taps, you'll probably be costing yourself at the end of the season. According to research that I've seen (tips hat to Dr. Perkins) season-old or older taps contain bacteria which will start to shut down the tap hole as soon as the temperatures rise to around 50 degrees ambient temperature. It can cost you as much as 25% of your season. This year I'm switching to the clear seasonal taps with checkvalves. I run tubing, not buckets; your mileage may vary. That being said, I'm at 800 feet elevation with a North-facing bush with mostly reds, so I'm not going all-in until the weekend of the 23rd. Good luck.

[SWEETSAP]

We are in Dunbarton and had 200 taps in on Monday. Friday we finished up tapping with a total count of 525 taps. 380 gallons of sap on Friday and 275 gallons today. I figure it will run again in our area on Wed. and Thur. Tapping this Sunday should be fine,

[Russell Lampron]

With buckets I would wait until at least next weekend. If the 10 day doesn't look favorable at that point i would wait another week. If you tap too soon the holes will dry up and you could miss the best runs at the end of the season.

[Birdland Sugarbush]

Looks like I didn't miss anything by not tapping this past weekend. With the forecast for a Nor'easter this coming weekend, I may not get them in then either.

Wonder when we'll see the warm up. I'm sure it will be a quick turn around.