Loos like a short season in New york.

[Germanmaples]

I was lookin at the forecast and I don't really see much of a warm up until March. I hope it changes.

[cpmaple]

I looked at it also looks like its shaping up to be a fast and furious season short but strong runs

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I was lookin at the forecast and I don't really see much of a warm up until March. I hope it changes.

I only have 60+ years of experience so I don't pretend to be any authority but traditionally we could expect sap to begin running in early March and continue until about the 10th or so of April. May years we have produced more syrup in April than March. Don't get your knickers in a knot because you are not making lots of Feb. Syrup.

[heus]

I always get a kick out of long term "forecasts." They can hardly predict the weather two days out let alone a month.

[nymapleguy607]

For me March has always seemed like a better month to make syrup. It always seems like when you tap in February you spend half a month looking at you laterals frozen solid and having days that you think the sap should run and it never does. March seems to be the month when everything starts really rocking.

[adk1]

For me March has always seemed like a better month to make syrup. It always seems like when you tap in February you spend half a month looking at you laterals frozen solid and having days that you think the sap should run and it never does. March seems to be the month when everything starts really rocking.yup, even though this will only be my third season that is exactly what I have experienced so far. I haven't boiled in February yet

[maplwrks]

Thank you Doug for straightening out so of the "maple pups" out there!!

[Michael Greer]

Don't rush things! I'm not ready yet!!

[BAP]

Biggest thing is, ITS ONLY JANUARY. The days are still way too short to make the sap run much even if the temps were right. Very late Febuary, March and early April is sugaring time.

[Maple Hill]

I think it was 1997,we tapped late February and never made any syrup until April.

[adk1]

Isn't there a thread like this every year? Haha

[markct]

3 days ago the weatherman had a whole dif forecast for today, so i find it hard to worry much yet about what they say the weather will be 30 to 60 days from now!

[nymapleguy607]

Isn't there a thread like this every year? Haha
I think you right, I have tapped a couple of years in mid february, the only year it was worth it was in 2012 when it was so warm. Last year I tapped the 8th of march and it was the first time I have ever had enough sap the sweeten the pans and draw syrup of on the first day of boiling. I just don't have good luck with early tapping especially with a North facing sugar bush

[maple flats]

Yes, even though this will only be my 12th season making maple as an obsession, I have seen a huge range of sap flow dates. For me in the past flow has started as early as Feb 7 and ran as late as Apr 19-20. Within that huge range to actual number of sap flow days has been as short as 13 and as many as 31. It was never continuous, day after day.
Don't count the season out yet. My earliest flows in the past have always been much slower than later when the "time is right" meaning all the favorable conditions prevail. It's too soon yet to say this is or was a short season. Hang in there, it will get better whenever the time is right. The only time that says it's over, is when the buds open and then you can cry all you want.
This cold weather could very well set up a more traditional syrup season, with a super good season in March into mid April.

[steve J]

I must admit I laughed when I saw the title on this and its on 01/22 we will have a typical spring when its all said and done.

[spud]

I only have 60+ years of experience so I don't pretend to be any authority but traditionally we could expect sap to begin running in early March and continue until about the 10th or so of April. May years we have produced more syrup in April than March. Don't get your knickers in a knot because you are not making lots of Feb. Syrup.

I agree with what you're saying. The real sugaring season in my area starts around March 1st and ends in mid April. Last year 35% of my production was in March and 60% was in April. That only leaves 5% to be made in Jan-Feb. Because of this I am holding off on tapping to see if I can get more overall sap per tap with fresher holes. I am thinking by giving up the 5% in Jan-Feb it might give me 10-20% more sap overall. I am also using the CV2s spouts this year. By tapping later and using the CV2s spouts under 27-28 inch of vacuum I hope to increase my overall production for the season. Only time will tell.

Spud

[unc23win]

Here I never got a drop until Feb 28th last year and I tapped the 14th. Then we had 10 days in mid March when everything froze up and didn't run. Ran until April 11th. A few folks did get some early runs, but not much. I actually talked to someone on Sunday who got January thaw sap in 2013 and then didn't get anything at all in Feb.

I think last year was pretty good for most people probably because most get everything around a little earlier than traditional times some tap early using new spouts or cvs and then spend the "waiting time" making sure vacuums and everything are ready to go for maximum production when it starts to flow.

Myself I was planning on Feb 1 (early for me) to tap, but I am waiting on a few things for the evaporator which should be here this week or early next week. So I don't know I might tap if it looks like it won't run and get everything else ready while waiting or vice versa. -18 with wind chill today not exactly weather for working in the sugarhouse after work.