Otsego Counte 2016

[Brian Ryther]

We began tapping the second week of January. By The first of Feb. we had 4600 tapped and were able to make 300+ gallons during the first run. Amber in color and good flavor. We are going to finish tapping this week. New for this season are 1k taps, new vacuum pump and new helper. The pump and the helper allowed us to maintain 27"+ in the woods during the first run. I think if we can maintain the systems as well as we did during the first run then we should have no problems breaking .5gpt this year.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Sounds good Brian. Was that the new helper with you at Verona? We are about half tapped up North here. Still waiting on my new back pan so I hope it doesn't run too soon.

[Brian Ryther]

Great run the past two days. 2.18 gallons of sap per tap for the run. I am waiting until tomorrow to boil in the last 5k of sap tomorrow am. Too tired to do it tonight. Unprecedented vacuum levels this year. 30 degrees while collecting the last sap tonight and the sap was still running. I think that means zero leaks. Well over 500 gallons of syrup so far. Best February ever.

[Brian Ryther]

2.21 gpt yesterday to today. Up all night chasing storm damage last night. running on very little sleep. Vacuum within 1/2" of every pumps potential. I had a 4th tower added to my RO last night. I was able to make 18% at 1,440gph all day today.

[Brian Ryther]

Things are going well in Otsego County. Record February syrup production. 1/2 crop as of today.

[Brian Ryther]

Things going great in Otsego county so far. 63% of full crop so far. Dark grade today. some of the best smelling and tasting syrup the past two days. Nothing to complain about so I wont.

[treehugger]

I made some dark today. It smelled and tasted buttery. Looks like we won't get another run until Friday/Saturday. Hopefully won't be too late.

[sugarman3]

60% for me to ,everything was cleaned yesterday,hoping to make amber,but didn't happen,made a great tasting dark/robust syrup,hoping temps stay cold

[Brian Ryther]

Great weekend. 74% of full crop. Sap is running slow today but adding up to a decent day. after tonight's boil we will be over the 2k mark. new territory for us. running out of barrels. Forecast looks great for the next two weeks.

[unc23win]

Awesome news Brian! I think we have a similar forecast.

[georgelineman]

All done in Orange County NY. 11 gallons of syrup from 70 taps. About 4 gallons short of each of the last five years. Avg. boil was 61 to 1 Clean up underway. See you next year!

[treehugger]

Looks like the weather may cooperate this weekend and into next week. Do you think the sap will have decent quality? So far no buds on the hill yet.

[Brian Ryther]

Going strong! We saw the heaviest sap flow of the year this afternoon. Sugar hanging around 1.4%. Grade is back and forth every day. Tonight we ended with golden. 86% of the way to a 1/2 gallon/tap. Still looking for leaks today and was able to gain a 1/4". Up to 28.5".

[Brian Ryther]

The bitter sweet end. I pulled the plug today. Still getting almost a gallon of sap every day. Started to get too buddy. Hard maples have not started to bud swell but most of the reds have. Great season. Great syrup. 2,825 gallons of syrup. over 33 gallons of sap per tap. .495 gallons of syrup per tap. That is actual syrup. Not including the hour that I ran the ro down the drain at 2gpm of 15% concentrate, and all of the other sugaring mistakes that add up to a lot of syrup down the drain. Time to start planning on where to grow next year. Already in the works is a bigger ro, new evaporator, number of new taps will be determined.

[GeneralStark]

Nice work Brian!! I would say that you can round that number up to .5. :D I had my own "sugaring mistakes" this season....

[Mountain Winds Farm]

we are pushing on 500 gallons here, waiting to see what next weeks weather does as we are still not budding here in Berne

[Brian Ryther]

Not sure what I am doing. Pumps are on. We pulled all of the red maples that have blossomed, about 2000 trees. Hard maple buds are tight. Up with hope.

[sapman]

I'm with you, Brian. Less softs I'm down to about 875 from 2850 (actually since March 17). Sugar tests about normal for me, sap is almost clear. We'll see.

[sapman]

Boiled 2100 and made the first beautiful gd of the year. Unfortunately, is somewhat buddy. So my dilemma, do I turn the soft maples back on and see if they'll still run?

Looking forward to your update, Brian.

[Brian Ryther]

I boiled in 3k of clean clear sap. Golden in color. despite pulling the reds the flavor is metabolized. much better flavor than the syrup we ended with last week. Ill go a few more days.

[Sunday Rock Maple]

Tim and Brian,

We've considered pulling the reds here (maybe 1,000 of 3,300) but have never done so. We're using disposable spouts so I'm thinking we cut that off and put the drop on the "T" but that would likely drop the vacuum quite a bit -- is that what you do or is there another way (stubbies for example).

Thanks!

[sapman]

I boiled in 3k of clean clear sap. Golden in color. despite pulling the reds the flavor is metabolized. much better flavor than the syrup we ended with last week. Ill go a few more days.


Tim and Brian,

We've considered pulling the reds here (maybe 1,000 of 3,300) but have never done so. We're using disposable spouts so I'm thinking we cut that off and put the drop on the "T" but that would likely drop the vacuum quite a bit -- is that what you do or is there another way (stubbies for example).

Thanks!

I wouldn't hesitate to try that. In my case, they come in on separate conductors, so I simply turn the valves off. But I think it would be worth sacrificing some vacuum it it makes the difference between table grade and buddy syrup.

My sugars are now buddy, so I wonder if I should just turn them all back on. Trouble would be tons of sour sap to pull through.

[Brian Ryther]

I use the clear check valve spouts. I cut them off and put the tip of the spout in the drop line. it is about 99% effective. It didn't effect the vacuum.
Tim and Brian,

We've considered pulling the reds here (maybe 1,000 of 3,300) but have never done so. We're using disposable spouts so I'm thinking we cut that off and put the drop on the "T" but that would likely drop the vacuum quite a bit -- is that what you do or is there another way (stubbies for example).

Thanks!

[Sunday Rock Maple]

Thanks guys -- looks like a nice afternoon, I'll give it a try.