2024 Tapping Season

[ScottT]

Drove up into the Thumb where our sugarbush is this past weekend. Taking care of some preseason preparation work. We are pretty remote so no water, no electricity (small generator only).

Hoping to add a few additional taps this year and hit 30 taps. A lot of water on parts of our property this year. A number of trees we could tap are under water. I wonder if anyone experienced any difference in sap flow between trees in water and out of water?

Also hoping to lear about running lines this year and how best to do this without a vacuum pump. Anyone in the Thumb area willing to give a few tips, please DM me. We only boil on the weekends.

2024 goal is to produce 100 - 8 oz bottles.

[ScottT]

These next two weeks have me perplexed. If these temps were in the middle of February, I'd have my taps in. My plan was to possibly have taps in either February 10 or 17 this year depending on the weather. I'm in the Thumb area (but live in NW Oakland County) and there is still a lot of snow and ice up there. DOesn't help that I have to go out of town the weekend of Feb 3.

[SpartanTom]

Same here. I'm starting a new sugarbush in northern MI, and the forecast temps up there have me wondering if I should tap before February even starts. Anyone else thinking of setting taps soon?

[dugit]

Not sure what to do. Got quite a bit of snow on the ground , but getting light rain today and yesterday.

[dugit]

Just looked at the 10 day forecast. Mid 30's for next 4or5 days, then 40's and pushing 50 for the next 5 days . I think we'll get going in the next couple days. A little early but got to go by the weather, not the calendar.

[toquin]

Running hear.Not even close to being ready,do not believe this weather was predicted 10 days ago

[Pdiamond]

Drove up into the Thumb where our sugarbush is this past weekend. Taking care of some preseason preparation work. We are pretty remote so no water, no electricity (small generator only).

Hoping to add a few additional taps this year and hit 30 taps. A lot of water on parts of our property this year. A number of trees we could tap are under water. I wonder if anyone experienced any difference in sap flow between trees in water and out of water?

Also hoping to lear about running lines this year and how best to do this without a vacuum pump. Anyone in the Thumb area willing to give a few tips, please DM me. We only boil on the weekends.

2024 goal is to produce 100 - 8 oz bottles.

Scott I began using 3/16 tubing a couple of years ago. I created a slope by starting the tubing out high and it doesn't take much. I am just a small producer, but using the 3/16 tubing with 5/16 drops really made a big difference. I use a 55 gallon drum to collect into and that will fill up in about 2 days with 15 taps. I am adding more tubing this year.

[ebliese]

Just curious for those who have tapped-what sugar % are you seeing?

We aren't ready to tap yet. Will probably wait until the middle of February, weather dependent, of course. :D

[Mark79]

With this forecast it's tuff to wait. Curious if anyone's having a decent run now or over next several days? Please keep us posted. Freezing at night with mid to upper 40's during day for next 8 day's.

[toquin]

Running slow here. We will be half tapped Wed. 31st

[Maplehobbyist]

36 taps in today. Most were dripping between drilling and inserting the tap. That was 6 hours ago, haven't checked to see how much they've run.

[dugit]

Got 156 taps in today. Was running when the sun was out, but slowed down this afternoon when it got cloudy. Have 50 more to put in tomorrow and we'll be all tapped. Made a half barrel and pump unit for the truck to pour the buckets into and pump the sap up into the tank that's in the back of the truck. No more climbing up and down the tailgate. Getting to old for that nonsense. Kind of anxious to try it. May your buckets run full !!

[fireant911]

We are in the Upper Peninsula and, just like everyone else, are VERY surprised at the unseasonably warm daytime temperatures that have occurred for the last couple of weeks. Most of our snow has now melted and I have yet to tap a tree... January just seems too early! I am concerned that I have probably missed this season because our sugar maple trees are already showing buds.

[ScottT]

Buds will show, just as long as they don't pop.

That said, just heard Weatherman Mark Torgorossa say that we'll have very unseasonably temps (almost 60) this week, but then there is a chance of two weeks of "colder weather". Colder being 32 degree highs.

I'm planning on tapping in the Thumb next weekend and take advantage of a few days of above and below freezing before the next cold front comes in. I have to travel to my sugar bush so better tapped than sorry....

[dugit]

Ran like wildfire today (2/4). Some of the taps were dripping almost to a steady stream. Collected 290 gallon of sap. Tested 3.0 from the first load (threw out a little ice) and 2.5 from the second load.Collected from 11am to 1:30 pm and it was running like crazy so I'm sure there will be a lot tomorrow (2/5). May your buckets run full.

[toquin]

Couple more good days, then it looks like it will quit for a while. Mouse or chipmunk in walls,chewed air line for diaphragm pump . Needle valve broke for RO. coffee pot took a s..t. But we still made 5 gals.

[ScottT]

Considering tapping in The Thumb this weekend. Might get a few days of flow before the temps drop. I'm a "backyarder" but my sugar bush is 1- 1/12 drive for us. This weather pattern has me perplexed. But I don't want to be unprepared once the temperatures turn favorable again. We use buckets, no vacuum. Empty buckets once a week, twice if a relative makes the trek mid week to empty.

Anyone planning on tapping in Michigan this Weekend.?

[ebliese]

I am strongly thinking about tapping this weekend, mainly because this year that's my free time. After getting through this three/four day stretch with lows above freezing, I'm thinking the trees will recharge with the lows in the 20s starting Saturday night. Still have some buckets to wash, RO closet to finish, RO to assemble, but we are getting there.

But take what I say with a grain of salt because I'm on the other side of the state from you, ScottT.

[Pdiamond]

There are a lot of people around me that have put in taps, and I put in 8 road tree taps yesterday as a test. I don't believe the woods trees are really ready yet. To me the ground seems frozen after you go down about 2 inches, and that is in the open yard. I am going to wait at least another week before I go all in.

[toquin]

Had to gather some 50 gal. barrels twice today.Might run all night, then 60 degrees:o

[AlRock]

I'm in the thumb also and just finished piping my woods. Will be tapping later today and tomorrow then fire the pump up and check for leaks. Next week looks like we are semi back to normal for temps, don't see much happening but who knows.

Zero frost here, field tiles been running last couple of weeks.

[dugit]

Didn't collect yesterday. Had to go pick up a new door for the evaporator. Noticed a crack in my door so thought I better replace it before it broke in two. Got home about 5 pm and checked buckets. Looks like it ran pretty good, so going to start collecting at daylight and then get to boiling. Should be a good amount. Have collected 600 gallon so far this year, so off to a good start . May Your Buckets Run Full

[ScottT]

I like to listen to Mark Torregrossa on MLive. He said to be wary of the forecast of below freezing highs over the next few weeks. While we are getting a cold snap, he's seeing trends that the surface temps will be above freezing and in the mid to lower upper 30s. Partly due to no ice on the Great Lakes. That works out well for me as we only collect every few days.

If this keeps up I'm going to have to build a small cabin and "work from home" next to my sugar bush in the future. LOL.

[ScottT]

We set 27 taps today in the Thumb area. Had a few that were flowing right away when we tapped. Trees are located in four different areas on our property. Some areas were under water so not tapping those trees this year. Would have been a better day if it was a bit sunnier. All in all, a good day. Looking forward to collecting and boiling this week.

Has anyone experienced a difference in taste or flow with trees who are sitting in water?

[ebliese]

We put in about 100 over yesterday and today. It is running for us, at least the yard trees. The woods trees were dripping as we tapped them but haven't checked those buckets yet. Now it's on to assembling the RO...and hoping I can manage to work full-time and sugar! But I know that's what many people on here have to do, too.

[ScottT]

Checked our taps today in the Thumb. Some activity but pretty spotty. Trees in the west woods were not producing. Trees in the middle woods: some activity. Got about 12 gallons out of trees tapped with drop lines into buckets. Blue hanging buckets were half full, but frozen. One was full and not frozen. All in the same area of trees. Nothing from the east woods. Got another 6 gallon off blue hanging bucket but they were frozen as well. Probably a total of 25 gallons off of 26 taps. Was expecting a bit more from earlier in the week.

In other news, the 65 gallon tank on our gator WILL slide off the back if not tied down. Couldn't lift it back up. We left it in the woods because we were running out of light. Will need to empty it now to get it back up.

So, all in all, a good start to the season.

[toquin]

1 day run 2/15 made 14 gal. looks like some good weather middle of next week.

[ebliese]

We collected 126 gallons from a few days ago. We RO'ed it last night and then boiled it this morning. Had some excitement with a foam over in the flue pan. Wow, is the boil in a raised flue hard! It is our first time boiling on a raised flue (previously we were on a flat pan) so we're learning the raised flue game. There's a lot of things different with our operation this year so it's the work out the kinks season. Sap in the buckets so will probably collect this afternoon.

[Pdiamond]

Daniel, Whenever you first fire up for the day you need to pay really close attention to the flue pan. Sorry I did not mention that before, slipped my mind. It will usually foam up bad right then and let you know how much oil you will be needing to add. I usually put in a drop or two every time I put wood in the fire box or more if needed. I use a squirt ketchup bottle, because it lets me control how much goes in without getting burned

[dugit]

Never been able to make real light syrup. But it's OK. On 2/12 it got darker so on 2/13 I drained and cleaned the pans. I filtered the half cooked sap and returned it to the pans. On 2/14 I boiled 165 gallon and it was still dark. On 2/15 I drained and cleaned the pans again and threw out the sap from the pans. On 2/16 I boiled 190 gallon. I have not bottled the syrup yet but I think it looks lighter. We'll see when we get it bottled. We've made 30 gallons of syrup so far. Goal is to make 50 gallons. Ended up with 221 taps. Sap has been testing around 2.5. Doesn't seem to help the test when we throw out ice. We boil in a 2x6 drop flue.

[Balrog006]

We put in our 20 taps Tuesday afternoon while the daughter had the day off for mid winter break. About a third were running or dripping as we set the spiles. Haven’t collected yet as it’s been mostly frozen since then, some of the buckets have a half gallon or so in them. Figure with tomorrow being warmer we should see some flow and I’ll boil Monday-government holiday. The 10day looks decent for flow, high 30’s and 40’s for the day time temps, some sun and most nights down into freezing.

Good luck everyone, happy sugaring!

[ScottT]

Did a first boil in The Thumb yesterday. We had 27 taps we put in last weekend and had about 30 gallons of sap collected, but most of our hanging buckets were frozen solid. 5 gallon ground buckets had about a gallon on most. Some trees in the deeper low areas of the woods were dry. Earlier in the week my uncle went to collect sap, but dropped the 65 gallon tank off the Gator. So that was almost frozen solid with about 12-15 gallons. Then he and my brother dropped it again and broke the spigot off. Ugh! Lost a little but salvaged most because it was frozen.

Ended up boiling about 20 gallons and the syrup came out very light. Tried the new inverted cone holder "Cone Optimizer". What a difference that makes. My Sap App said the syrup temperature was 217.89 yesterday for my location, but we had to keep boiling a while up to 220 degrees to get Brix. Was a struggle. First time finishing in the shed rather than taking it home to finish in the kitchen.

Wasn't able to use my RO Bucket for the first time. Sap was too frozen. The upcoming week looks good for sap flow so hoping to get a ton of sap by next weekend.

[Balrog006]

Solid run today when the trees finally thawed out from the low teens the other morning. Wonder if they’ll continue into tomorrow as well or if two nights over 32° is stretching it…

[ScottT]

Great Boil on Saturday. We collected 50 gallons. A lot of frozen sap. (we only collect on Wednesdays and Saturdays). First time using our RO Bucket RB5. What a difference that makes. Made over a gallon of syrup.

We've been using a Murphy Compensation cup this year for the first time. First batch last week was a little thin. It was our first time finishing in the shack (I used to take it home). So we were a little nervous on a small batch. Yesterday's batch was nearly spot on at 60.5 brix at the right corresponding mark on the Murphy Cup. Still feels a little thin to me, but last year (our first really year) we were probably running a higher brix than it should be.

Our color is still golden after two weeks. Most of our trees are sugars and don't look close to opening yet (can barely see the buds). We are located In Michigan's Thumb. Silver Maple buds are swollen but still not open. Some sugars are still rather slow in different areas of our property. Others were overflowing.

Had one bucket that did not produce both weeks. Turns out it was an oak tree. D'oh. The tree identification app helped me with that one.

Hoping for another good run this week. The following week looks terrible with highs int he 60s and lows only in the 40s??

[toquin]

Well, does anybody believe the 30 day outlook? Says some low 20s middle of month. Got a new bush with 53 taps I would like to try.

[ScottT]

I'm just taking it day by day at this point. Trying to squeeze out every last drop I can. I am in the Thumb. Trees still look good, but night-time temps are struggling to get below freezing the next week to two weeks. I follow Mark Torregrossa on MLive. His forecasts are pretty in-depth and correct. His prediction is much warmer than normal temps going into March but a possibility of some colder temps late March, but by colder he means highs of 45 and lows of 35.

[littleTapper]

Well, does anybody believe the 30 day outlook? Says some low 20s middle of month. Got a new bush with 53 taps I would like to try.

Over across the lake from you, I have given up on the long-range forecasts. All year I've watched the stuff more than two weeks out look nice and cold, but then inch up once we get to about 10 days out. We have no freezes in the 10-day forecast now here in SE WI but still that long-range shows dips down near normal around March 15th. If I had to guess, it's not a forecast at that point and just using historical averages as a larger weight in the guess.

I hope we all get more season though!

[ebliese]

We got about 50 gallons today which is way below normal for collection. Hoping the sap will run more tomorrow. So far we're about halfway to 25 gallons of syrup. At least for me it will probably be a good thing there won't be much sugaring during the upcoming week as I've got a busy work week with a big job.

[dugit]

Pulled my taps on 2/26 and 2/28. Tapped on 2/1 and 2/3. Made 47 gallon with 220 taps so we did o.k. Had some dry taps and a couple running yellow and enough syrup so decided to give it up. Made a lot of dark syrup this year and no matter what we did it kept getting darker. Time to move on.Get things cleaned up and be ready for next year. Trying to get educated about tubing and hopefully have some next year. May your buckets run full.

[toquin]

New bush 60+ taps tapped Fri. 3/1. 150 gallons of clear sap. Got 200 gallons from 700+ taps ,drilled 2/4 some. Barrels had 2" some 10 gallons, some nasty.Crocus are blooming and daffodils are close. If buds break on hard maples we will be done. Still looking for the low 20s middle of month.

[dugit]

We had a situation similar to Toquin last year. Early taps were slowing and burning out and we tapped thirty more taps and they gave us 2 or 3 good runs of clear sap and extended our season a week or 10 days. They were woods trees ,not yard trees, and they weren't as for along toward budding. May Your Buckets Run Full.

[ScottT]

The Thumb Region. Boiled 40 gallons (with RO) and made 1 gallon of syrup. Sap was testing at 2%. Still have about 15 gallons to boil tomorrow. Trees were running all day. Silver maples were just starting to open, and probably will on Monday when it hits 70. The Sugar Maples (which we have the most of) were still closed and tight. Finished syrup is amber colored. (it was golden last week). A couple of taps were leaking but I think it was due to the flash freeze we had. They weren't leaking last week. Hoping to get another week.

[ebliese]

We were just ruminating on this factor while boiling this evening-the dry weather. It seems like this season has been much dryer compared to last season. That would affect the sap flow. Anybody else want to weigh in with thoughts?

[ScottT]

I've noticed a couple of my silvers that were gushers last year, were struggling this year. Sap was flowing, but we weren't getting as much as before. Sugars on the other had are doing very well.

[toquin]

Have never seen it this dry.New bush still running.We will have to boil raw sap today 200 gal. Have not had to do that in years.

[ebliese]

Boiling raw sap here, too, but only 20 gallons today. The Spring peepers are making noise as well.

[AlRock]

My sugar tanked yesterday, 1.2%.

Bit over 7000 gallons since the 12th, guessing I'm about done here in the thumb.

[toquin]

Weather Heads still saying some cold nights ahead.We will see,buds still tight on hard maples

[ScottT]

You have sugar maples or silvers? I'm in the Thumb also and as of Sunday the sugar maples were still pretty tight. Hoping for another week or two.
My sugar tanked yesterday, 1.2%.

Bit over 7000 gallons since the 12th, guessing I'm about done here in the thumb.

[ScottT]

Our buds on the sugar maples were still pretty tight in the thumb. I'm hoping they hold out the next two weeks with these temps.
Weather Heads still saying some cold nights ahead.We will see,buds still tight on hard maples

[AlRock]

All sugars.

[ebliese]

15 gallons collected today. Not sure of the sugar content but from the last collection we were around 1.5%. Thinking we might have reached the Dark grade from our boil this evening. Wondering if the forecasted rain on Friday will help, along with the forecasted low of 29 for Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise it really does seem like we are reaching the end for us. I don't think it is taphole drying because we tapped one tree last Friday (3/1) and it is behaving like all the other trees.

[ScottT]

No boiling today in the Thumb. Our silvers were completely open this past week. Sugar Maples were still tight as of Thursday, but no sap due to the temperature. Temperatures expected to go below freezing tonight through Tuesday. Hopeing for the best. Would like to get one last boil in. Season for us was too short. We've produced 3 gallons of syrup.

[toquin]

Done! Got down to 29 degrees last night but the trees are saying leave me alone. Not 1 drop. Made a little over half what we normally do,might have missed a couple of runs late Jan.Tapped Feb.3. Now for the hard part

[ebliese]

The trees started running yesterday about 1PM. We collected 80 gallons around noon today, 1.8% sugar. Still an Amber grade in the bottles but it's the low end of Amber. Kind of exciting for us as we haven't gotten this dark before.

[ScottT]

Pulled my silvers yesterday in the Thumb area. Very little in all buckets, and what I did get was a little could but tasted ok. Tapped 5 new sugar maples. Sugar Maple buds were still tight. Sap was flowing from them. Gushing actually. Temps this week look favorable. If this week is a bust, then it's over for me.

[toquin]

You southern tappers let us know what happens with this cold snap. 16 degrees on Wed???

[ScottT]

You southern tappers let us know what happens with this cold snap. 16 degrees on Wed???

I'll let you know on Thursday when we check our taps. We are in The Thumb. We'll see. I'm going to ride this out till the last bud opens.

[ebliese]

About 20 gallons collected today. Before Elle went to boil she was trying to fill the sight glasses and nothing was happening so she stuck her hand in the flue pan....maple jelly! Or maple goo. I believe this to be ropey based on posts here on the trader. So our season is over. The contents of the syrup pan appear to be good so we will finish that on the stove. There's still a bit left to bottle for us, too. The numbers aren't in yet but we'll be just shy of 25 gallons, I believe.

[ebliese]

Ok, numbers are in. 24.85 gallons of syrup bottled! Not too shabby, given the fact we tapped on February 11th which seemed to be later than others. The contents of our syrup pan we heated up on the stove and tasted and something seemed a little off so that will be used for goat food for the sister-in-law. We have a nice sampling of the grades, golden thru dark.

[ScottT]

Late Run in the Thumb. The sugar maples we tapped last week all sent our buckets over flowing. Ended up with 1 gallon of syrup. Sap was 2%. This was our first boil in nearly 3 - 1/2 weeks. Sap was Clear to slightly cloudy. We would have had more but the gale force winds in the Thumb the last two days knocked down and over some buckets.

Next three nights still look favorable. Hoping to get out one last time on Saturday to pull the taps and boil anything left.

So far this season we are up to 4 gallons of syrup. Last year we did 3 gallons. With such a crazy weird weather this winter and spring, I'm happy with what we go and happy I stuck it out just a little bit longer. Buds on the Sugar Maples are still tight.

[ScottT]

Pulled the taps on the remaining trees on March 30 in the Thumb. Older taps were not producing at all. The few additional Sugar Maples gave us about 30 gallons of sap. Hydrometer read 2%, but only made about nine, 8 1/2 oz bottles. Oddly the syrup was slightly lighter than what we produced just three days ago. Season total is probably going to be around 4 1/2 gallons of syrup. An increase for us, but not where I wanted to be this season.

Already planning for next year. Thinking about adding tubing on gravity on some sugar maples located on a nice slope. Identified additional sugar and silver maples. Might boost my RO filter to filter faster.

Otherwise, it being a weird year weather wise, I'm happy and learned more.