July Journal

[maple flats]

Well, we've gone past the longest day of the year and the days are getting shorter. Before long it will be maple season 2016.
Today I've got to bottle more dark syrup and more amber tomorrow. The dark first because I had an order yesterday for more than I had bottled in half gallons and qts from an account who resells my syrup both at his large year round greenhouse operation and at 3 farmer's markets each week. Last year he only sold about $500 worth, but this year he's placed an order every 5-6 weeks for $250-450 worth each time. My online sales have been good too. At the rate it's selling I will likely need to buy more again this year.

[Urban Sugarmaker]

At the rate it's selling I will likely need to buy more again this year.

Dave, where do you usually buy bulk? I only made 21 gallons but have sold almost all that I am willing to part with. I have contemplated buying bulk to sell more but I want NY syrup and I'm not sure about buying a 55 gallon drum from someplace like Bascom. The shipping cost has to be crazy. Also, am I technically a "food processor" and therefore in need of a license if I bottle syrup that is NOT made by me?

To stay on point with the July Journal I haven't been doing much. Going to get the rest of my firewood done soon and planning to build or buy a small RO.

[unc23win]

Also, am I technically a "food processor" and therefore in need of a license if I bottle syrup that is NOT made by me?

Do you currently have a license? In PA our license covers syrup we made and syrup that we would buy and process. I believe it basically covers 3 parts 1. Manufacture 2. Process and 3. Distributor

I have been installing some new lines and at the same time cutting some wood basically by taking out trees (mostly Ash) that will be harder to get after the lines are in. I figure I might as well get something done while I am waiting for it to quit RAINING every day so I can get on with making hay.

[maple flats]

So far I've only bought from 2 local producers that I know make good syrup. After seeing how Bascom tests syrup I would not buy there. I sold syrup there a few years ago and they test the syrup, taste it and then dump the sample back into the barrel. I fail to see how that can then be good syrup. That practice was seen 2 different times, so I quit going there. I never did buy syrup there. I don't think 1 I've gotten syrup from (actually traded grades) will have any to sell, since his sales have gone up nicely.

[wnybassman]

On my way to the jobsite yesterday morning and a glimpse of stainless steel out by the road catches my eye. I see it's a milk tank for sale and quickly turn around. The exact size I was looking for, less than 10 miles from home and in the lower range of the cost I was hoping for. It was meant to be. The outside is a little dented up but inside immaculate. Now I need to move my wood rack (which has about five face cord of nicely stacked wood in it) to put the tank where I want to. Never anticipated finding one. DOH!!!!

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10984453_1608898832713672_4026831229001332781_n.jp g?oh=33be49471d6e88271e4038cd8c266797&oe=561AA0A7

[maple flats]

Nice find. If you want a milk type valve for it, try googling Hamby Dairy. I got one there and it's nice. Made in Germany if I remember right. I think they were in Fla.
Does it have a gal. size on it?

[wnybassman]

Nice find. If you want a milk type valve for it, try googling Hamby Dairy. I got one there and it's nice. Made in Germany if I remember right. I think they were in Fla.
Does it have a gal. size on it?

It came with a valve. Have not played around with it yet, but it is clogged up with honey at the moment. That is the last thing he did with the tank.

300 gallons

[MapleMark753]

Finally got a wood splitter, and finished up splitting rounds for the house and evap. Man, what a difference. Working with firewood is always going to be a chore and good hard work, but its SO much better not splitting by hand. Well, I say finished, but I don't think one is ever really "done". lol...
Also had a bit of good news in that a regional farming magazine featured a profile on our small operation this month, so that was nice.
take care, Mark

[Maplewalnut]

Finishing up sugar wood. Still a mix of dead oak (**** gypsy moths) and spruce/hemlock for next year. On the tough days when she just doesnt want to boil well the food of choice is a steady diet of pine and locust pallets! Still debating this year on taps. Pretty short season here the last few years, and CDL smart spouts have prodcued just as well as CV2s. April comes with a bang in PA and it seems like we go from 40s to 60s overnight. Fighting with insuarnce company about policy renewal who will cover trees on our property but not leased trees. Want me to separate sap.. Yea right. Will only cover sugaring part of sugarhouse and not storage portion because it contains freezer for personal use and ATV. Converting over last bucket woods to tubing as soon as heat recedes a little.

Mike

[wnybassman]

My tree guy came and took down my two large black locust trees leaning over the house. Currently working to get that mess cleaned up, and by the time I get those all split up I will have wood for two years ahead, if not more.

[SeanD]

Finishing up sugar wood. Still a mix of dead oak (**** gypsy moths) and spruce/hemlock for next year. On the tough days when she just doesnt want to boil well the food of choice is a steady diet of pine and locust pallets! Still debating this year on taps. Pretty short season here the last few years, and CDL smart spouts have prodcued just as well as CV2s. April comes with a bang in PA and it seems like we go from 40s to 60s overnight. Fighting with insuarnce company about policy renewal who will cover trees on our property but not leased trees. Want me to separate sap.. Yea right. Will only cover sugaring part of sugarhouse and not storage portion because it contains freezer for personal use and ATV. Converting over last bucket woods to tubing as soon as heat recedes a little.

Mike

We switched over to a farm package with Farm Family. They didn't give us any of that kind of nickel and dime stuff. We rolled the house and garage into it as well so everything is covered from product liability to slip and fall in addition to the structures. They know I have visitors come out for open houses, so there is peace of mind there. I don't think they cover the trees at bushes I lease, but they cover me there so if I hurt myself on someone else's property, the property owners are protected.

Our homeowners insurance was so high before that that part of our coverage under the farm package is actually cheaper. It might be worth having an agent come out and give you a quote.

Sean

[RC Maple]

Still waiting for the dry weather to come and for summer to start. I dropped a couple dead ash trees at the end of May to bring up toward the house to be split and stacked. To do that I have to put that wood in my trailer that I pull with the 4-wheeler and go through the lowest part of the woods to get to where I want it to go. There has been water laying in that low section since the first of June. I don't know that the forecast would really be for a "dry spell" either. One thing's for sure - apply plenty of mosquito spray. I have got enough sugar wood for a couple of years so no pressure there. I would like to have more for the house though. I think since the last week of May we have had over 20 inches of rain. I can't even mow the yard when I want. It has to not rain for at least two days first and even then it's not fit. Looking forward to sunshine.

[maple flats]

I also have Farm Family Insurance. They cover everything (as long as you pay to have it insured.) I have my homeowner's, my 3 vehicles, my ATV, my snowmobile, Fire coverage on 2 rental houses and full farm coverage thru them. When we changed to them, we had 6 rental units, plus the farm and vehicles (but no ATV nor snowmobile) and they saved us about $2000/yr. Among other things they cover the maple operation, my sugarhouse, all the equipment, my u-pick blueberries, all my other farming equipment and my liability coverage too. They will not be concerned with separating things out, maple vs. personal. They cover my leases too as far as liability coverage (and the issue a certificate of ins. to the landowners, covering them from liability to me or my help, they do not insure the trees.

[BreezyHill]

Farm Family here too. Not the same company it was when it was owned by Farm Bureau but it is not the worst out there yet.

In the old days they would have your back now they are your normal insurance company that prorates parts when doing repairs after an accident. IE...the wheel they will pay 100% but the bearings and seals that were damaged in the accident were used so we only pay for 40%of replacement. Two week old tire they only paid 50% since it was used...1000 miles on it max.

Then the fiber glass hood they want to send 1000 miles to a shop to have it repaired and would take a month just to save $300. They paid me the freight and repairs and I got a new one off Ebay fro half the cost of a new one. Thank you very much.

Dealing with my son getting rear ended going down the road at 10:30 behind me and I hit a coon and he tried to avoid another one when a kid hit him from behind. Cop figured he was doing at least 60 in a 45. Pushed him 100' feet down the road and totaled the other car but his ranger is 4x4 and low miles so they going to spend $2500 to fix it.

Just sucks waiting to get approval to have it fixed...two weeks and running.