Chautauqua County, NY

[Chickenman]

Just for the heck of it I just tapped a silver maple in the yard 30 minutes ago. Just checked the sap sack and I have over 2 cups of sap so I checked sugar and it's a solid 2%. Not ready to start this season yet. I did not do any last year and I got the bug. Maybe after Christmas I may start a few and see how my new RO works for me.

It seems that the weather has been ideal sugaring weather as its been below freezing at night and above 36 during the day for the last month and the long range forecast does not look that much different.

Anyone else tapping early?????

I have never tapped before Valentines Day and most of the producers around here tap mid Feb also.

[wnybassman]

I'm waiting until at least mid January, and hopefully into February a bit. I know it is running now, but I am still optimistic that we will have a good cold spell for some of the winter. My gut is telling me we are not though.

[Chickenman]

Put out 23 more taps on 12/22/2018 and had a nice little run today (12/23), did not collect but estimate about 8 or 10 gallons total from the silvers and sugars. Reds not running yet.

[Chickenman]

Going to do my first boil in the morning. It is windy here so I did not collect from the sap sacks. Estimate about 12 gallons hanging and have 35 gallons of sap already. Not that much for you bigger guys but good start for this backyard-er. I think I have enough to try out the RO.

[Chickenman]

Boiled yesterday until i ran out of sap and had just enough for cooling down. Put the sweet in a pot and finished on the turkey fryer after work today. 3 quarts of syrup for the start of 2019. Good thing too because I only have 1 12 oz bottle left.

[Freedmad]

About what percentage sugar are you getting? I'm in Columbia County and it's been really warm here as well, considering tapping this weekend or next.

[Chickenman]

I have mostly silvers and a few sugars. It's been 1.6 to 2.0 which is where my silvers and sugars tend to be when I tapped in late Feb in the past. Yesterday and today's total for 14 taps was 10 gallons sap total. Hoping for a better run Sat 1/5/19

[Chickenman]

Well I had a good run yesterday, collected 10 gallons from the 14 taps I had out. Seemed the trees were still frozen in the morning but by late afternoon they started to really flow. I could see a good amount of sap in the bags along the driveway, (in the dark) as I was leaving for work this morning. Will be collecting when I get home and I should be boiling this weekend for sure. Sugar maples really flowing, silvers are doing well and the reds are just starting a bit.

[Chickenman]

Just got done making 29 more PVC sap sack holders. I'm getting ready to put out the rest really really soon.

[peterjd89]

Tapping tomorrow see if I can get at least 900 done might as well saps running pretty good

[millscrest]

I tapped this Sunday and have finished 13 gallons yesterday. I am sure glad I tapped early this year. I normally wait until at least the 17th of Feb. It ran really good Sunday, Monday and a little yesterday. I am in the Gerry area.

[peterjd89]

where are you in Gerry

[millscrest]

Ross Mills

[Chickenman]

Just finished bottling. 3 quarts, 1 pint and 12 oz bottle. Out of sap until the next run. Used my vacuum filter. 1 felt, 6 papers and went through in about 30 seconds. It was awesome.

[Chickenman]

Well not to bad for collection on bags. Gathered 40 gallons from 48 taps and I left close to 10 gallons in the bags as ballast with all this wind here.

[Chickenman]

Tapped 5 trees today for 7 taps total on vacuum with 5/16 line. The cheap little RV water pump is pulling 12 to 13 inches of vacuum and in 4 hours looks like between 2 and 3 gallons of sap. I did not plumb in a recirculation line, YET, but we are working on one. Having a hard time finding the parts I want/need to install the 1/4 inch compression by 1/4 NPT needle valve that I have. I think I'm going to like this little setup.

[Chickenman]

Just came in from stringing up a 14 tap gravity line. Sap was flowing nicely from the trees and flushed out the holes. I hope to do my first boil this weekend if the vacuum line keeps producing like it has. Getting 20 to 24 inches of vacuum at the first tap on that line since I put the recirculation line in.

Will be interesting to see what happens with the gravity tubing line as I know how it did on just sap sacks.

[millscrest]

Ok Chautauqua County here is the Big question. Should I tap this weekend or wait? I tapped last year on Feb 3rd and did not regret it. ????????????????????

[Sugarmaker]

There is a chnce of a run over the next 4-5 days. Friday will be a warm up day. May run Sat through Tuesday? After that?????????

[Chickenman]

Don't think it will help you but my gravity line is not been doing squat, I've gotten maybe 12 gallons since I installed it (1/6/20) and that's with 14 taps. However, my vacuum line is only 7 taps and I have collected over 130 gallons of sap. Have had to dump some of it due to the 60 degree day we had a bit ago and have boiled twice now. I'm only 2 miles from Lake Erie and it really affects our weather, especially when it does not freeze and I don't think the Lake is going to freeze this year.

[Chickenman]

After a year off, tapped last sat. 3/5/2022. 25 taps in sugar maples, collected 75.5 gallons of sap and bottled 1.75 gallons of finished syrup. Graded as Amber. First time not making dark syrup. I'm happy.

[Chickenman]

Dang, think I'm done. Buds are dripping sap and beginning to pop open. Got a late start and looks like an early finish. Next year.

[Chickenman]

Hello all. Ice fishing has been nonexistent this winter. Just returned from a trip to the Adirondacks. Just tapped 10 trees for 18 taps yesterday, and collected 21 gallons of 2.5% sap. I may be doing my first boil Saturday.

[Pdiamond]

I agree Ckickenman - what ice

[wnybassman]

I never got my ice fishing stuff out. I could have went a couple times, but not to places I wanted to go. All still tucked away for next year.

[Chickenman]

Got the pan sweetened and was able to do a small draw. First time ever making Golden grade. Still prefer dark or amber but I'll take it.22971