Upper Peninsula 2016

[Plungerke]

Has anyone started tapping yet, looking at the 2 week forecast has me itching to get things started.

[slybird353]

Maybe March 1st for us. Too early to tell yet.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Look at the forecast for the first week of March, hope to start tapping then pending the weather. I'm getting the itch to feed my maple addiction.....

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Hopefully we have a little time to get some more taps in. I'm thinking we better be ready by the 10th of March. I would like to say we should have our season staring about the 15th. It is already starting to flow a little now with the warm days. Holding some wood blocks with screws in a tree to support main lines we had some sap flowing yesterday, so when it starts it's really going to go.

[Michigan Maples]

Best of luck for a prosperous season. Ours has gotten off to a good start down South.

[Snappyssweets]

Good luck when the season breaks up there for you guys.

However with my now being nice and wishing good things upon you. Could you guys put an order in with Mom? Yeah see the whole idea of 24 hours ago I was collecting sap and twelve hours ago I was out shoveling 8 inches of snow and now have another 5 inches to shovel well its not setting well with me. I really wanted spring not more winter. Could you maybe ask her to stop trying to smother us down here with the white blankets and perhaps send them to the Canadians above the lakes.?

:D Had to do it. lol

[fishman]

Sounds like our typical season. I've had one year that I didn't collect on a snowmobile and that turned out to be the year that was pretty much a bust for everyone. On a positive note we didn't even see a flake of snow yesterday while you were getting pounded.

[Paint River Yooper]

1st Sap of the season today in Iron County. Not enough to even talk about but a teaser for what is to come.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

After reviewing the accuweather forecast for March today, I have set a date. Going to tap on March 7 for this end of the U.P in Mackinac County.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

After reviewing the updated accuweather forecast it looks like the sap is going to start flowing here in the Eastern U.P. this Sunday. Looks like is going to be good for the next 2 week. Put in the first 35 taps today. I'm going to try and get the rest in tomorrow.

[Josie]

Has anyone started tapping in Marquette County? We still have up to 2 feet of snow on the ground, but weather forecast is calling for some warm days next week. This is only our second year, so would like some input from the pros! Thanks!

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Put another 71 taps in today, for a total of 106. Sounds like the others in my area are starting to tap looking forward to this weeks coming weather starting on Sunday. Still lots of snow in the woods here as well.

[unclejohn]

i enjoy reading about you folks who have a real winter. i worked at republic mine in u.p. in summer of '76 and have seen your beautiful fall maple colors a few times since. here in mid missouri we made 18 gals of great syrup between jan 23 and feb 29. we just pulled our taps out because the sap taste changed and the temperature forecast is lousy. although we are just a hobby operation, there are actually a few commercial syrupmakers in mo, some with as many as 400 trees- mostly in central and southeast mo around the ozarks. nothing quite the scale of the folks up north. good luck to you yoopers, hope it runs well into may. john

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Jolly
Yes I know a few who are tapping now or are tapped. The forecast looks good except for the nighttime lows are too warm. I hope it will actually start to get a little colder at night than they say. I'll be tapping all the woods this weekend and Monday, Have fun!

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Sapsucker,
Thanks, hope your season and weather are good as well. I'm hoping that where I sit in a valley it gets colder at night then the forecast. I average 8-10 degrees colder at night then the areas just a mile or two away from me during then nighttime lows.

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Jolly
RMG in Rudyard always say they do well when it's a warm year because they are colder than the rest of the area. I never thought I would want it colder here. So I think your in for a real good year. Have Fun

[rjrude]

We are tapping in Curtis area, 115 taps, using a2x4' Smoky Lake drop flue on our homemade wood fired arch from a fu oil tank, no more serving trays hera either. I too think the weather favors a run this coming week, ready and waiting!!

[rjrude]

We tap a few trees in Marquette and 100 in curtis, transport to Marquette to boil. No sap yet, but may start in the next couple days. We are not pros but getting better! Good luck, post how youre doing!

[yooper]

Started tapping here in Munising today. Wet holes and some sap flow. Looks even better for tomorrow.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Sapsucker,
Thanks, hope you have fun and a great year as well.

[KitchiGumee]

Put in 35 taps on Friday, south sides were already bubbling then. Today all the taps have awakened and some are starting to really turn on. Hopefully these warm days can stay rain free.

[fishman]

Put in 96 this weekend. Running fair today but it doesn't look good with the lows being in the mid to upper 30s for several days.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Got our first sap yesterday. Collected at about 1000 am, totaling 25 gallons off 106 taps. It was just starting to run good as we were finishing collecting. Hope for a better collection today. I'm worried that it only got down to 37°F last night.
The sugars were running well and averaged 1.5% the Reds only gave up 3-4 ounces at 3.0% and the Silvers never gave up a drop.

[Cedar Eater]

This is just sad. You Yoopers are starting to get good results sooner than some of us trolls. Not that I'm begrudging you. :D You must have more sugars than reds. I've more than doubled my tap count this year and I'm facing a short, lean season. Here's hoping you get a good harvest.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Well I only collected 15 gallons off 106 taps today, tree have shut right off. Sugar content was really low averaging 0.75% for the 15 gallons. 1- 5 gallon bucket was at 0.25 brix, I boiled it anyways since I needed the volume to fire up the arch. I hope you other Yoopers are getting better sap flow. Heres to hoping that we get some cold freezing nights with these day time highs.

[Snappyssweets]

Pulled another 52 gallons today here. Clear still but boiling as I collect it and still falling behind I really need to build a means to boil better. Either way so far its still on. Will check the buckets tomorrow if its still clear I will keep gathering if not ah well.

[rjrude]

We collected 77 gals just before dark yesterday out of 100 taps, first collection of the season.some trees not started to run yet.

[fishman]

Pulled 75 gallons sap and 3 gallons of snow fleas. Still running good today even though our low was 42 last night. Predicted for 31 tonight. Looking for a busy weekend.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

First decent run of the season yesterday, it got down to 28 F at night. Pulled 60 gallons off 106 taps, averaged 1/2-3/4 gallon per tap. All taps started producing for the first time this year, some a lot slower then others. Sugar content has been really low so far averaging around 1%, last year they ran in the upper 2's. By the time I had finished collecting, the first collected already had about and inch in the sap bags.

[yooper]

Flowing heavy here today in Munising. Sugar content averaging 2.5-3 Brix.

The tanks are almost full and it keeps coming. Gravity 3/16 tubing is working great. These are the days we live for. Temp is 57 and climbing.

Time to fire up the evaporator for Round 2.

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Ran real good last couple days. Only 1.5 -1.7 % here but well over 1 gallon per tap average last couple of days. Gotta love High vac with dry/wet lines!! Forecast look awesome.

[Jeff50]

It has ran good here,the last couple days.Stopped today but the night temps look good starting the end of the week.First year trying tubing,(3/16) have two runs one with 24 and another with 20, better then hauling with buckets.
Pelkies Upper Michigan

[Plungerke]

Been too busy to tap this year and feeling envious of all you spending time in the sugar bush. The forecast looks very promising for the end of this coming week, if everything works out I'm going to spend the weekend at my friends sugar bush :). We still have 37 quarts in the cellar but want some fresh Maple goodness and the joy of making it.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Pulled the taps on all of our Silver and Reds, they have started to bud out here in the E. U.P.. All of the Sugars are still nice and tight. Down to 91 taps now. Hope that the Sugars hold out, weather forecast looks good starting Thursday. The last collections on 03-12 and 03-13 ran at 2.5% and 2.4%.

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Now we have no 40 degree temps in the weather.com 15 day forecast. Weird year still trying to thaw out pipes. If it ever does warm up in June it should really flow!

[regor0]

I was running more laterals and taps yesterday, 27 degrees with sun shining, it was running pretty good.
I keep thinking season is almost over, then I remember I always have my best runs around tax time.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

We collected 20 gallons of crystal clear 2.3 brix sap on 03-23-16 off 91 taps. Wish we could get some good weather to finally get a good run this year. Any other Yoopers having any luck.

[Jeff50]

The sap ran good today,collected about 60 gallons so far off of 60 taps. Going to empty before bed again.

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Got about 1200 gallons today after things finally thawed out. Low sugar though for us only about 1.2% we'll have to see what happens Sat. the temps should be warmer. It was 10 degrees in the morning and never got over 41 with a strong cold wind from the south.

[rjrude]

We are getting some sap but no real good run yet, hoping for a couple good runs . Our trees havent budded yet and sap is still clear!

[yooper]

Started flowing again here yesterday. The 3/16" tubing is streaming nice clear sap into the barrels today. The bags are also dripping pretty good.

Looks like another good run is upon us. Weather looks great till next weekend.

[Paint River Yooper]

Sap is running great near Amasa. Just pulled in another 27 Gal. from 30 taps. sugar running at 2.8% today, down from 3.5% yesterday as the trees woke up from the last freeze. I retapped several of the oldest tapholes with a bigger bit 2 days ago and the wood had turned brown like an apple that sits out and was full of frozen sap. Today they are all producing well again. Have been boiling for 2 days on the 2 turkey friers and will be finishng about 2 gallons or more of syrup tonight. Then I have to wait to get more propane on Monday to start the 3 rd batch. That might be the last batch, I have to get on with things to keep the wife happy!

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Just finished running 52 gallons of 2.6% through the evaporator. Went back out after I was done and the trees are still running good with crystal clear sap. I cant wait until morning to go collect and start boiling.

[U.P. Sapsucker]

Wow very jealous of your high sugar content. We hit 1.6% yesterday and had over 1 gallon per tap. Lightest syrup we have ever made with crystal clear sap. Please send some of your sugar this way! Have a very blessed Easter!

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Sapsucker,
You have a wonderful Easter as well. Here's wishing you a nice strong run of 3.0% sap.

[fishman]

Probably had our best ever collection today. 230 gallons off 94 taps. Everything is full and running evaporator 24 hours straight and probably all day tomorrow. Sorry I'm missing it as my kids are minding the store as I'm soaking up the warmth down south on vacation.

[fishman]

Probably had our best ever collection today. 230 gallons off 94 taps. Everything is full and running evaporator 24 hours straight and probably all day tomorrow. Sorry I'm missing it as my kids are minding the store as I'm soaking up the warmth down south on vacation.

[UPMaple]

Still trying to catch up here in Munising. Third day of boiling. Sap was flowing heavy last couple days.

Hoping to get caught up in time for the rush again tomorrow.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

We had our best collection this year on 03-27-16, we collected 125 gallons of 2.2%.:) Went out after work last night and collected another 124 gallons, ill have to check on the sugar content once I transfer it to the bulk tank. I'm hoping that mother nature will let us Yoopers get 3-4 more good runs like this in before the season falls apart.

[UPMaple]

Still trying to stay ahead of it here. The 3/16 gravity vacuum tubing we tried this year is working great.
Anyone with hills in their Sugar Bush should give it a try.

[Jeff50]

Have two runs on 3/16, one with 24 and another with 20. 1st time trying it and we have had trouble keeping up. Been keeping the pan going none stop. Also have 16 on buckets.

[UPMaple]

Amazing how well it works. We are scaling up next year.
Been boiling sap six consecutive days here. Looking at a bigger pan for next year.

Sap flow is finally starting to slow down and the snow is falling again. Should stop for the weekend and give us time to catch up.

Been a great season so far.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Well were getting the cold at this end of the U.P., and the sap is starting to flow a little again. Most of it is freezing in the bags and buckets before we can collect it in the evening. Only got 16 gallons tonight off 117 taps, about 1/4 sap and 3/4 ice. Hope we get a few more good runs in before its over.....

[fishman]

I collected all the frozen ice yesterday from the previous 4 days dribbles. Best sugar content of the year. 38:1. Ran a little yesterday afternoon and should run this afternoon too.

[Jeff50]

Between Monday and today collected 60 gallons off 60 taps. Have already made 12 gallons of syrup so doing good,last 2 batches very dark.
Pelkie area

[UPMaple]

All froze up here. Winter is back till next week, then it looks like it will be flowing heavy again.
Probably the last run before the buds start. It's been a great season this year.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Went out and collected today. About 1/4 of my trees I got a small drizzle of sap from, totaling about 14 gallons from 117 taps. These trees were in good sunlight, the ones back in aways not a drop, still frozen solid. Talked to my neighbor a few miles away, he said they are pulling their taps tomorrow, he's worry that the buds are going to start swelling as most their trees are along the edges of fields and woods. I'm hoping for one more good run, as our sap total to date has been really low with only 2 good runs so far this year. Anyone else still going?

[rjrude]

Still got the taps out here in the Curtis area, hoping for another good run with the coming warm up. Then it looks as though it may be over with as it gets to warm. Good luck and happy sappin!

[Ed R]

I made 14 gallon of very good tasting dark amber syrup at the M-57 level of mid michigan this week an am looking to boil again on Sunday and Monday. You should be good for a while in the UP. All sugar maples.

[Jeff50]

Has been a good year so far in the UP, for us. Have made 14 1/2 gallons so far and still have 120 gallons of sap to boil, that we collected since yesterday.Still running good, but we are going to pull are taps tomorrow, have enough to last the year.

[UPMaple]

Still going here in Munising.
Temps have hit 60's today and will see 70's this weekend.
Will be pulling taps soon.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

We finished up yesterday, tree buds have started to swell as of last night. Going to pull the taps Monday and Tuesday, its be a good learning curve this season.

[fishman]

Just finished my last batch. Probably 4+ gallons but gotta bottle it tomorrow. Should be close to my best season ever.