Tapping End of This week.

[woodey24]

Thinking of Tapping some end of this week... Anybody else? Thoughts?

[Jonnyp390]

Got 24 taps out this afternoon down in metro-Detroit. Most of the west facing taps were dripping. I plan on putting out another 30 or so this weekend. The last two years I held off until "normal" tapping times and seemed liked I missed out on some early flow. This year I decided to go early.

[Kbrooks80]

I got my first 5 gallons yesterday. Need about 50 more to fire the evaporator.

[Snappyssweets]

Central Michigan here.

Buddy in downstate told me he tapped yesterday and had good flow.
I got in early last year had a good season but holes dried up in about half my trees towards end of it. Thinking of waiting another week to see what happens for sure here. Wondering what the rest of you guys in central area are thinking I know there is one other here in my town and several in the surrounding area.

We need to all hold a meeting and have coffee. :cool:

[Tweegs]

I’ll go in the 18th, if the forecast holds.
Not before then.

[mi-maple]

I put out 100 taps on sunday and i got about 120 gallons collected so far.

[Tapline]

I will be tapping Friday. Woody24 where are you located at in lenawee co. I am just northeast of adrian.

[Too Tall]

Will be tapping on Sunday in the Grand Rapids area.

[mchuntress]

Forecast is looking pretty decent...think I'm gonna pull the trigger on the 16th over here by the bay. Maple bug is nibbling hard...try to resist the urge for a few more days.

[woodey24]

TapLine, A bit south of Devils lake, Clayton is the Zip. I'm going to try and get a few in Thurs, and completely in by Sat if I can. The next 10 or so days look good after Thurs.

[Michigan Maples]

Van Buren Co. here, looks like forecast says it's time to get 'em tapped. Will be doing that on Sunday the 12th.

[argersm]

Thinking about tapping tomorrow. I was out earlier today just checking on trees, as I got to a few of my soft maples it looks like they have budded out. Maybe something that happened during our "January thaw"? A few of them are good producing trees, even though the sugar content is a little low. I've attached a few pictures, what do you think. Would you tap them?153871538815389

[pamelance]

Started fooling around tapping my dads 2 trees 2 years ago. Then I added 20 more trees last year.
I quit my job 2 weeks ago (unrelated), and I am taking this opportunity to see if I have what it takes.
Will be tapping 70 trees this year (50 Red/ soft maple, 20 Sugar) in 2 different locations. 3 steam pan/ cinder-block stove. So much determination I could choke a horse.
Pray for me!! Will take any advice!

I sanitized everything today- buckets, 35 gallon barrels, taps, tubes and I am tapping hopefully 35 tomorrow (Sunday). The weather looks great- going both above and below freezing for the next 10 days.

[Mille705]

I tapped about 20% of our taps yesterday(Friday 2-10-17). 43 today and some did not run at all. Going to give it until at least next weekend before we drill anymore.

[woodey24]

We ran our first line ever yesterday, no trees were dripping. Today one of us ran 2 more short lines (we use the 5/16 as mainline). When I went to put the barrel (he had 2 short runs meet in the middle) the bucket had over a gallon in it. The other probably has 5 or so. Planning on putting in quite a few more tomorrow (some walnut). Still saving some for normal time but gettin in when the gettin is good.

[woodey24]

Started fooling around tapping my dads 2 trees 2 years ago. Then I added 20 more trees last year.
I quit my job 2 weeks ago (unrelated), and I am taking this opportunity to see if I have what it takes.
Will be tapping 70 trees this year (50 Red/ soft maple, 20 Sugar) in 2 different locations. 3 steam pan/ cinder-block stove. So much determination I could choke a horse.
Pray for me!! Will take any advice!

I sanitized everything today- buckets, 35 gallon barrels, taps, tubes and I am tapping hopefully 35 tomorrow (Sunday). The weather looks great- going both above and below freezing for the next 10 days. I don't have much advice thats worth much except cold beer helps.... the rest of the guys are really helpful I have no problem telling how we do it, even if its wrong...lol

[Tapline]

Put in 30 taps yesterday. 11 on gravity lines and the rest are buckets. Plan on putting another 50 in Sunday morning. Sap ran slow today only collected 9gal.

[Woody77]

116 taps in late this afternoon holly crap were they running . I do in town and roadside maples most of witch were planted in the 1880's some younger. We'll see what this year brings but the sugar by taste was way up . All the soft maples here are budded anyone else notice that seams early by a good 2-3 weeks.

[billdean]

I tapped 8 red maples this morning. They did drip a little bit but they didn't start until about 2:00pm and were done about 5:00pm or so. Out of 8 trees I may have gotten a gallon of sap. All I have are red maples and most don't give there sap up easily. I think its still a little early here in my area. Looks like maybe Friday things may pick up if the forecast holds.

[Snappyssweets]

100 taps in yesterday, all on a gravity line 3/16 taps and lines.
Went back and began working them all to create vacuum and had most completed as it slowed down running about 5:00 -5:30 Will see what happened when I check things about 1:00 PM.

Will work the lines that need tweeking a bit yet over today and tomorrow.
I may be early but again I would rather be early and out doing something than sit around any more in this darn house. Although my poor body has been telling me that I may have overdone it since I walked in the door yesterday afternoon. :D

[mi-maple]

I have collected about 250 gallons so far in 120 taps. Boiling as i type this right now. I'm southern most Michigan though.

[ehausinfrats]

Got out 180 taps Friday. Emptying today expextecting around 200 gallons. Should be a good week this week. Weather is favorable. Funny usually I'm running behind but everything is ready to go this year. And had no issues with everything coming together. Have fun everyone. 🍁

[mully84]

Hello from Birch Run,

I'm going to do a handful of taps today to see what happens. Extended forecast looks very favorable. We shall see what happens. If things are running this afternoon I'll get the others out tomorrow before dusk.

It's always a gamble.....

[Jewdave]

Thinking about tapping tomorrow. I was out earlier today just checking on trees, as I got to a few of my soft maples it looks like they have budded out. Maybe something that happened during our "January thaw"? A few of them are good producing trees, even though the sugar content is a little low. I've attached a few pictures, what do you think. Would you tap them?153871538815389

I seem to have a couple trees looking like this too. Did I miss my chance on them? I only have 9 trees around my house in the Detroit suburbs and I'm still new at this.

[mitten mapler]

115 taps put in on saturday in st helen

[nidatz]

Thinking about tapping tomorrow. I was out earlier today just checking on trees, as I got to a few of my soft maples it looks like they have budded out. Maybe something that happened during our "January thaw"? A few of them are good producing trees, even though the sugar content is a little low. I've attached a few pictures, what do you think. Would you tap them?153871538815389

I tap 5 big silver maples on my property and they look like this as well. I thought I was crazy because the first time I noticed it was in December. I'm just going to monitor the buds closely. Last year I collected until the buds popped and the syrup tasted great.

[Snappyssweets]

Collected a mere 13 gallons today. Still getting things set and tweeked. But for 3/16 line to buckets I am happy to at least be collecting. :)

[woodey24]

Have a few lines in and adding buckets every day as time permits. Tapped 5 Walnuts to see what the buzz is about. They were running but not as heavy as the Maples. I too, have the reds with buds but the sugars seem to be behind them which is the trend I think from my first year..

[mi-maple]

I have made about 7 Gallons of syrup so far. I have sap coming out my ears. Going to be busy. My only soft maple has bloomed all the way out.

[Marshalljt]

100 new taps coming tomorrow hoping to get them in by dark. Midland County

[Snappyssweets]

Marshalljt if you need help I don't plan on doing anything tomorrow other than cutting some wood and starting a boil. I am close just PM me.

[mchuntress]

11 gallons sap from 20 taps today. Set out 10 more taps. Everything looks pretty good, but my reds have swollen buds too. Weird...

[billdean]

42 taps out. 32 of the taps are in 8 old growth huge Red maples. Most are deep in the woods. 12 gallons collect yesterday. I will be putting out a couple dozen more taps today in anticipation of better condition through next week. High temperature yesterday was 39* (and it took most of the day to get there) with 4 or 5" of snow on the ground, and more added last night. Hoping for 4 or 5 gallons of syrup this year.

[Marshalljt]

Thanks had lots of help only took a 1 1/2 hours

[Marshalljt]

Put a hundred Taps out yesterday going to add 12 more today and see how much sap I got.

[DeciMaple]

Put in 53 taps earlier this week, I hope to get more buckets and spiles so I can tap more this year. Just finished collecting 40 gallons of sap, probably another 10 - 20 gal. out there but a lot of it is still frozen in the buckets. Planning on starting up the evaporator tomorrow! Let the season begin!! :)

[Marshalljt]

10 Gallons Friday collected
105 gallons yesterday starting the cooker this morning first run of the Year let's see how it goes

[jsalva]

Put 60 taps out yesterday 30 maple 30 box elder more maple today will be collecting sap latter today very good flow hoping the warm goes away might start budding