Anyone thinking about tapping.

[upmep]

It sounds like the weather might be getting close this week. Anyone thinking about drilling holes this week.

[Millvilletapper1]

I was going to tap a few trees tomorrow. Next week the weather looks good.

[tbear]

Hey upmep, good to see you back. I think I'll be tapping this weekend. Ted

[upmep]

I put a couple of holes in my backyard tree today. It’s right at 40 degrees or so. They aren’t running yet. It’s got to be close. I hope everyone has a great year.

[Millvilletapper1]

Tapped 30 trees today and all were running good. Was about 36 degrees and sunny.

[tbear]

I put in about 70 today and will finish tapping tomorow. A guy just called and said the 3 buckets he looked at were half full. Tomorow may be busy! Have fun! Ted

[Millvilletapper1]

Got 45gallons of sap this morning good start.

[tbear]

Ended up making the lightest colored syrup I've ever made. I've made golden before, but just barely. This stuff is very light colored. Quite pretty. Have fun! Ted

[Jim Foster]

Not in Iowa, but southwest Nebraska.(don't have a Nebraska forum so you guys are the closest...) Got 40 gallons Monday and ended up with 5 pints of very light colored Box Elder syrup. Tapped 2 trees last night that ran so fast you couldn't count the drops as they came out.

Jim

[tbear]

Welcome Jim. I tapped a tree last weekend and there was no drip to it, just a steady stream. I thoght I might have hit an artery!

Just curious, are there many sugar makers in your area? Either way, pull up a chair and make yourself at home! Also, Iowa didn't have a forum until a few years ago. Have fun, Ted

[upmep]

I put in about 50 taps altogether. They all seem to be running well. My daughter has a sugar maple in her yard and it is going crazy. I just started boiling today. It sounds like everyone has a good start. It sounds like it’s going to get warm for a week. Anyone think that will affect anything.

[tbear]

We'll need overnight temps below freezing to recharge the trees after this flow. I pulled 135 /150 gallons (depending on which tank markings you trust) off of 100 taps, this morning. I'll collect again tomorrow morning then start boiling. Have fun, ted

[150ish]

First boil was Sunday the 23rd and since then have made 25 gallons of syrup off 135 taps. Have had a couple runs like i have never seen and the sugar content has been pretty consistent with 2%. Hope to make 10 more before it's over and that looks to be Sunday unless the forecast changes.

[ChaskaSap]

From the friends to the north. I'm up in the Minneapolis area and the dripping has been slow so far this week, although two weeks ago had had a nice run. Hoping it gets back to that pace soon. It appears like you're a day or two ahead of us. Enjoy!

[iowatapper]

Finally got tapped yesterday (March 2nd). 203 taps; all on buckets. They're running pretty good today. Hope it doesn't get too warm too fast and then stay that way. Always hoping for a good season. Maybe this year is the one.
Best of luck.

Jim

[Millvilletapper1]

Made 3 gallons of syrup on sun and collected 60 gallons of sap today. Tested at 3% going to boil it down tomorrow.

[iowatapper]

Gathered about 250 gallons of sap on Wednesday. Finished it yesterday morning (March 6th). Got just under 7 gallons of syrup. Very little niter (Yea!!). I believe it is the lightest syrup we have ever made. No idea why.

Look's like it should run today with sun and high's in the 50's. Not too much wind out in the woods and down in the hollow's either, so that should help.

Jim

[tbear]

Sap is running here today, it might be the last as 10 day forecast doesn't look good, but that could change. Have fun, ted

[upmep]

It seems to have stopped here in south central Iowa. I was only able to make about 7 quarts because it quit so quickly. Had a couple good runs but the 50 and 60 degree days ended it. This week looks better but I think it might be done here.

[tbear]

Ill collect this morning, boil it (depending on quantity) and see where we stand. Might be buddy. Ill post results afterwards. Ted

[Jim Foster]

Not quite where you guys are but since you're the closest comparison I can go with..... My Box Elder sap here is starting to slow down, Next few days look promising. Have collected 165 gallons of sap total this year as our trees don't produce the amount of say your maples do. 1-1/2% though so that's good. Early syrup was very light in color while the latter is dark. Awesome taste! Just short of 2 gallons of syrup from over 125 taps.....

Jim

[iowatapper]

So far we can't complain. Looks like we'll get about 200 quarts from 203 taps. About average the old timers tell me, but the best we've done in a couple of years. The syrup is good this year and the niter isn't bad. I'll see how it goes but with luck I might be good for one more season. Hope everyone did well this year.

Stay healthy and avoid the Corona Virus. God Bless!!

Jim