2025 Sugaring Season

[ScottT]

This year we are going to increase our taps to maybe 50. Going to experiment with tubing on the south side of the property where we have about 10 - 15 trees/taps on a small hill. Using 3/16th tubing as a mainline.

We are also adding another filter to our RO Bucket so we can process 16 gph (up from 8 gph). The RO saved us a bunch of time last year, even with the slow season. We don't live near our sugar bush so we only boil on the weekends.

Planning on entering our syrup from last year for judging in the Michigan Maple Syrup Association winter meeting on January 17th. We've never done this before. Maybe we will see you there.

Still trying to find a good inexpensive way to move the steam out of our small sugar shack. We use a small storage shed. we tried putting in roof vents, but it doesn't draw out enough. Might hook up some roof fans. We boil on two large pans 17 x 30 pans on 2-two burner propane grills. (When we put in the permanent hunting cottage this summer it may be time to consider moving to a wood evaporator).

[Pdiamond]

If you move to the wood evaporator you may also want to consider a cupola above the pans with doors, you can open and close to vent the steam. It's the best way to do it if you don't have a steam hood on your pans and removes the steam well.

[ebliese]

We're going to 150 taps. Still all buckets.

I can't help but ask, anyone looking at the forecast for the next week? I've got highs in the mid 30s.....

[Pdiamond]

I have been watching accuweather and will follow that closely. I don't plan on tapping until at least mid-to later in February.

[ScottT]

Our sugarbush is in The Thumb. At this point we won't be tapping till at least after February 14. The forecast for the next two weeks still shows cold temps and only two days barely over 32 degrees.

[toquin]

Need to have everything up and ready to tap. We missed 3 runs last year because we listened to the week-10 day forecast.

[ebliese]

Ah, Thursday a high of 43 and sunny. :o

Not trying to say tap now but the weather is sure getting closer. Trying to get everything done by the end of this week.

I've been looking at my records and it has been interesting to compare. We've keep a log since we started in 2018.

2023 season: tapped 2/15 (could have tapped earlier but out of town), first sap collection 2/17-34 gal, first syrup bottling 2/24-3.58 gal

2024 season: tapped 2/11 (could have tapped earlier but not ready), first sap collection 2/14-124 gal, first syrup bottling 2/22-4.85 gal

How's everyone else doing?

[ScottT]

We are ready, but waiting. Thumb Area seems to start a little later than SW Michigan typically. Getting the itch, but as of now I've tentatively set Feb 22 as the weekend we can tap. Nature has her own plans though... So we are ready.

Tapped 2/11 last year, but it was a strange year and was earlier than usual.

[Ivyacres]

Lines almost all up and looking at adding some taps if time allows. Weather looks to be holding cold for another week but last week sure did temp me. I think it will be after valentine's day again according to the reports I'm seeing. Last year wasn't good by me in SW Mich as I had half the sap from the previous year. Best of luck to all and stay safe.

[ScottT]

We really didn't have enough warm days to make it worth tapping, and I'm glad we didn't. It doesn't look good through February 19th over here in The Thumb area. Not sure when this current cold spell will break.

[toquin]

I dont even know why I look. Accu just changed its Feb. outlook to one day above freezing. Everything is ready but the weather.

[littleTapper]

I dont even know why I look. Accu just changed its Feb. outlook to one day above freezing. Everything is ready but the weather. Yeah, same here in WI. It bounced like a rubber ball. If it's right, that will be a really late start for us.

[Aaron Stack]

I dont even know why I look. Accu just changed its Feb. outlook to one day above freezing. Everything is ready but the weather.

Same here in MA. I was looking at this weekend, then the 16th , then frozen now through the end of Feb.

[Pdiamond]

That is what I saw just before I got onto this site. Accu weather shows nothing for us until sometime in March now for a thaw.

[ebliese]

Here is one more to join your company! It was tempting to tap during those last few days of January but we are glad we didn't. Maybe in two weeks the weather will turn? Wait and see.

[ebliese]

Looking like the last week of February would be favorable to tap. That is, if the forecast stays the same. Given the colder weather we are having, what are your thoughts on how long it will take the trees to thaw and have good sap flow? I think this season might be the latest I will have tapped.

[toquin]

We are just used to the last few years of whacky weather. This year might be a normal year. Trees can thaw fast if its sunny and 45

[dugit]

As a rule we say any time after Valentines Day you better be ready to tap. With that said you must also go by the weather and not the calendar. Last year was a perfect example. We tapped on Feb. 1 last year and pulled taps on Feb. 29 and averaged .85 qt. of syrup per tap. I know a couple of producers that waited for the "normal" time and had a very short season. We have tapped since around 1972. Unfortunately our records don't go back that far. Tapping dates since 2007: 2007 tapped on Mar. 10; 2008, Mar.12; 2009,Mar.5; 2010,Mar.2; 2011,Feb.16; 2012,Feb.20; 2013,Mar.7; 2014,Mar.10; 2015,Mar.7; 2016,Feb.19; 2017, Feb.16; 2018,Feb.18; 2019,Mar.11; 2020,Mar.1; 2021,Feb.26; 2022,Didn't tap; 2023,Feb.8; 2024,Feb.4;. We have been a couple of days late and the sap was running when we tapped but I don't think we missed much. Don't get to rattled about tapping. We're not late. Just be ready when the weather dictates it. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL

[ADK_XJ]

As a rule we say any time after Valentines Day you better be ready to tap. With that said you must also go by the weather and not the calendar. Last year was a perfect example. We tapped on Feb. 1 last year and pulled taps on Feb. 29 and averaged .85 qt. of syrup per tap. I know a couple of producers that waited for the "normal" time and had a very short season. We have tapped since around 1972. Unfortunately our records don't go back that far. Tapping dates since 2007: 2007 tapped on Mar. 10; 2008, Mar.12; 2009,Mar.5; 2010,Mar.2; 2011,Feb.16; 2012,Feb.20; 2013,Mar.7; 2014,Mar.10; 2015,Mar.7; 2016,Feb.19; 2017, Feb.16; 2018,Feb.18; 2019,Mar.11; 2020,Mar.1; 2021,Feb.26; 2022,Didn't tap; 2023,Feb.8; 2024,Feb.4;. We have been a couple of days late and the sap was running when we tapped but I don't think we missed much. Don't get to rattled about tapping. We're not late. Just be ready when the weather dictates it. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL amen, good mentality!

[ebliese]

I think it seems "late" to me because the past few years have been tapping in early February. We also have only been keeping records since 2021 so we don't have as much data and experience to draw from. However, comparing my tap dates to Dugit's shows we have tapped within a few days of each other. It's very helpful data to see.

Guess I'm just excited to get going! With maybe some impatience mixed in. :D

[Pdiamond]

Daniel - March will be here soon.

[dugit]

Planning on tapping this weekend. Was gonna do some tubing but now second guessing myself. Do any of you tube with 3/16th? Do you like it? Max number of taps per line? When you use tubing, what about a tap that starts producing dark or yellow sap? Doesn't it contaminate the whole barrel of sap? How many taps per 55 gallon drum? I know, it depends on how its running and how often you dump it but what would be your recommendation? I want to use large top 55 gallon plastic barrels so it is easy to deal with ice. Any other thoughts? Feel free to join in. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL Thanks Dugit

[ScottT]

We were thinking about tapping this weekend in The Thumb, but my uncle took a trip over to the property and there is so much snow, we can't even get into the field. At least over a foot of snow. We have maybe three possible days of above freezing temps next week, but the temps are taking a nosedive soon afterwards. Maybe March 2nd.

[Pdiamond]

I have been using 3/16 tubing for the last 3 years on a few of my road trees. I have never seen the dark or yellow sap from this tubing. It was an experiment to see if there was enough slope to produce vacuum. There are 8 currently on this setup. On a really good run day they would come close to overflowing the 55-gallon barrel. This year I am adding more to this line and hooking it up to a pump.

[Kmb]

'Haven't noticed color changes in my 45 gal Brute barrels (with faucets on the bottom to help empty). I have four lines, max 8 taps per line, but most have 5 taps. Each empty into a barrel. My elevation drop from top to bottom is prob only 12-15 feet (it's all in my backyard), but ten taps can nearly fill a 45er about 2/3 full on a good day.
I was gonna add vacuum this year, but I got a new shed (she's a beauty) and a new half-pint. . . Incremental progress!

Tapping this weekend in the Berkshires!

[dugit]

I'm refering to the taps that late in the season the sap turns yellow or even a brownish color. When dumping buckets we just dump them on the ground. But thats only a couple of gallons. If its hooked to tubing you could be contaminating 30 or 40 gallon or more untill you figure out which tap is causing it and get it unhooked.

[Pdiamond]

i have only encountered the discolored sap when using buckets. I have never seen it in any of my tubing, even late in the season. By buckets I mean both the metal hang-on-the-tree type and 5 gallon with tubing.

[ebliese]

Planning on tapping this weekend. Was gonna do some tubing but now second guessing myself. Do any of you tube with 3/16th? Do you like it? Max number of taps per line? When you use tubing, what about a tap that starts producing dark or yellow sap? Doesn't it contaminate the whole barrel of sap? How many taps per 55 gallon drum? I know, it depends on how its running and how often you dump it but what would be your recommendation? I want to use large top 55 gallon plastic barrels so it is easy to deal with ice. Any other thoughts? Feel free to join in. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL Thanks Dugit

I don't use 3/16 at all but Roth Sugar Bush CDL Wisconsin just put out a video on a 3/16 presentation by Jim Adamski. Maybe this was from their open house? I watched it-good information, constantly citing university studies. It's a half hour in length. It might be worth a watch for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xcLrJ3L8rc

[Balrog006]

Our season started here today on the West lakeshore just south of Holland. Typically we have tapped around Presidents Day, this was only a week late so much more normal than last season.

The trees were weeping as we set the taps, and the 10 day forecast shows freezing nights and every day at 32 and above with some in the 40’s-and about half of the days sunny. Hopefully this will start the season off right for us!

[dugit]

Started tapping 2-21-25, only a few, some more on 2-22-25. Can't seem to get a full day. Some more tomorrow. Saps not running, but trying to be ready when it does. Gonna run our first tubing tomorrow I hope. Should have around 60 on tubes and 140 on buckets when I get done. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL

[toquin]

All tapped. Still too much snow in the woods. Little dripping action this afternoon.

[ebliese]

We tapped yesterday and today. Our rough count is 158. The yard trees and field edge trees ran last night, maybe two gallons per bucket. Looks like the woods aren't running as well yet but that's not surprising. Might collect this afternoon. The weather this morning was really beautiful-foggy spots, sun creeping up and shining through the trees, clear skies.

[toquin]

850 gal. today. Yard trees running,south facing woods trees running,middle of woods not much. Looks like a interesting week coming up, as far as temps.

[dugit]

Collected 120 gallon from 100 yard tree taps , few more to collect in the morning, start boiling afterwards. Have about 40 more taps to do on tubing, all woods trees . Using 3/16. Looks like what I have tubed is working good. Taping with tubing is slow and time consuming but will be nice when its done. Will be a lot faster next year because it will already be built. When I'm done I'll have 100+ on buckets and 100+ tubes. Should be able to get to it in a couple of days. I'm thinking the woods trees won't start running by then. Ready or not, the seasons here. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL

[ScottT]

We have woods trees here in the Thumb. Tapping this weekend. going to be around 50 taps this year. If my gravity tubing works well, we may expand into some hard to reach places next year.

[ScottT]

Put in 40 taps this weekend in The Thumb. First time we put in tubing. two sets of about 10-13 trees on different sections of our property. Took longer than I thought. Of course the 1 degree windchill on Saturday was doing its best to kill us. Finished today. We'll probably add another 10 taps on buckets next weekend. Frost is still pretty thick in the ground. Trees were bone dry, but it didn't get higher than 22 degrees today. This week in The Thumb looks promising, but the long term forecast for the following week as temps in the 60s?? Weird.

[ebliese]

We've collected and boiled twice now. Each time we've gotten about 150 gallons of sap. Now my RO is leaky and I can't stop the leak. Ugg, the headache. At least the sap isnt' running today.

[ScottT]

What's your percentage of sugar? I've been hearing the sugar percentages have been low.

[ebliese]

We're getting between 1.7% and 2% sugar content. Without consulting my records, I'd say it's roughly equivalent to last year.

[toquin]

Had to empty 250 gal poly tank that my gravity mainline runs into twice today

[ScottT]

Had to empty 250 gal poly tank that my gravity mainline runs into twice today

Very nice. I'm about an hour and half from our sugarbush. My uncle, who lives closer to the property, will be checking our collection tanks and buckets probably tomorrow.

[ebliese]

I was way off on my recollections. Last year's sugar started higher, 2-3%.

We collected this morning, 240 gallons, sugar between 2-2.4%. That's a nice uptick but I suspect it was because we had a lot of ice in the buckets. The highest sugar is probably coming from the yard trees but we have four 55 gallon barrels on a wagon so the yard tree sap gets diluted with wood tree sap. In the past few years we were using 30 gallon barrels and we would try to put all the yard tree sap in one barrel.

The RO leak is fixed.

[toquin]

You guys seeing the forecast temps for next week? 60s!

[ScottT]

Dislike. Barely any freezing nights at all next week. Had my uncle check our trees in The Thumb, only 30 gallons off 40 taps. Some trees with zip. The frost was still thick in the ground on Sunday. Hoping to get some more by Saturday.

But next week? Looks like a bust.

[toquin]

Do you guys hear that large lady singing yet?

[ebliese]

Eh, not sure. Yeah, we do have a warm spell for the next few days but Sunday is (right now) forcasted to be a low of 29*F. I guess we will find out!

We have ~17 gallons of syrup. We're still making Golden here but wondering when the drop to Amber will be.

[ScottT]

Do you guys hear that large lady singing yet?

Here in The Thumb, it's a rollercoaster this week, but should have 1-2 good nights of below freezing temps. The meteorologist I listen to says March may end warmer than normal, but long-term pattern shows a return to normal in April.

We still had frost in the ground last weekend, and ice on the lakes. Sugar buds were tights. It's going to be hit or miss, but I think we still have time.

[ebliese]

Sap has slowed down but not stopped, despite the warm temps. It's about 60 gallons on two separate occasions. Sugar content is 1.8%. This week in my area there will be two times the lows will be in the mid 20s. Hoping that will recharge the trees for more sap flow. Maybe we can squeak out another week.

What's it looking like for others?

[toquin]

If it doesn't run the next 24 hours I will be done. Shortest season ever, only had 9 boils. Usually 15 to 20. Outlook temps mid 20s tonight but this close to the lake, we will see.

[ScottT]

Made almost 3 gallons of syrup this past weekend in The Thumb region. Saturday was sunny and warm, windy and we were walking around in t-shirts. Then rain came through over night, making everything muddier than it already was. By the end of the day on Sunday it was snowing.

My silver maples blossomed. Pulling the taps on those. Luckily we have more sugar maples and those buds were still very tight. Looking forward to the forecast the next two weeks, if the sugars hold out after a small warm-up this week, we might be able to get two more weeks of collection.

The syrup we did make was sweet and much darker than the previous week Sap was running still at 2%.

[toquin]

Over 900 gallons today. Temp hit 70 degrees today, still running.

[Urban Hillbilly]

First year tapping at the new house. 71 taps up on my property in NE Grand Rapids, near Meijer Gardens. Today was best haul yet of the season.

[dugit]

I'm back. I hope. Been having trouble posting. Two times I posted messages but they never came up. So anyway, I collected 130 gallons from 234 taps today. Seems like the 100+ taps on buckets have quit or slowed way down. The 100+ taps on tubing are still doing OK. The tubing is 3/16 with 12 to 20 per tube with some slope. Maybe the tubing is causing a vacuum? Maybe the spiles for the buckets are open to the air so bacteria is getting in and shutting them down? I don't know. Any thoughts? P.s., Sugar was 2.1 and it made dark syrup and plugged the filters often. Filtered some twice and didn't seem to make a difference.

[DrTimPerkins]

Yes, tubing systems (as long as they're new or sanitized in some way) will tend to run longer than bucket systems that are open to the air. The vacuum you get on a 3/16" system running downhill will also help in that regard.

Good luck keeping things going. Almost 70 deg F over here in South Lyon today, but colder weather (mid-20s at night) is in the 10-day forecast several nights, so hopefully your taps will hang in a bit longer.

[dugit]

Thank you Dr. Perkins.I appreciate you expertise. I've read many of your post and they are very informative. I hope your enjoying our great state since your retirement. We checked the sap this morning and had very little and it was a little cloudy , even in the barrels. We took a close look at the buds and they are starting to swell up so I don't have much hope for another run but we will wait it out a couple of more days and see what happens. We really like the 3/16 tubing system we put up this year. We think we've found some new trees on a slope for next year and beyond to replace some trees that tubing would not work (no slope or can't get to with a pick-up). Short and fast season. Usually make 45 to 50 gallon. Only made 35 this year, from 234 taps. May Your Buckets Run Full

[ebliese]

Still going here. We collected 159 gallons today, just about a gallon per tap. The 18th and 19th we collected 162 and 127 gallons, respectively. The maple closest to the house has buds which are noticeably swollen on part of the tree. That tree always seems to warm up and run earlier than the other yard trees. I'm thinking it has something to do with the proximity to the house.

It's looking like the next few days will be the last of the season for us. Hopeful to reach the 37.5 gallon mark. We're close. Just don't want to loose the contents of the evaporator from buddy sap.

Hope everyone else has been having a good time.

[toquin]

Would like to see the mid 20s they are predicting tonight.Sap getting a little cloudy. Probably last run.

[ScottT]

Sap was flowing from our sugars in The Thumb today. Collected around 65 gallons. That was at noon. I'm sure more came through in the afternoon and maybe into tomorrow. Will be boiling on Saturday.

[ebliese]

We bottled our last batch today which makes seven batches for us and a total of 40.35 gallons off of 158 or 162 taps (depends on who's counting). Since I'm on buckets, this falls right in with the quart of finished syrup/tap. It was a little strange because we didn't have anything solidly in amber. The amber we do have is borderline golden and borderline dark. Usually we make golden and amber, perhaps making a little dark at the end, but this year it was golden, borderline amber, borderline amber, and dark. We did have a stretch of warm weather (60s) in the middle of March for three or four days and although the trees still produced sap after that, it wasn't quite in the amounts we were seeing before that warmth. Looking at the log, that also fits with when we dropped from borderline golden to borderline dark. Makes sense.

I cannot begin to state how invaluable my wife's help has been this season. She can run the rig, bottle, carry buckets, and even drive the tractor! She makes a a wonderful maple partner and spouse, even when I meddle with her RO settings. ;)

[Pdiamond]

Daniel - how did you do as far as boiling with the raised flue pan set? Did you run it hard or not. I find that since I am retired, I can get the rig going good and then, so I don't have to load it as often use some bigger blocks of wood. I am seriously considering the purchase of an RO system for next year.

[ebliese]

Pdiamond, good to hear from you. I was wondering what you were up to since you hadn't said much during the season.

We were able to get between 30-40 gph on the raised flue set. The average was 30-36 gph but there were some times we got it to 40 gph. Stack temp ran about 500-600*F. A few times when the stack temp got to 600*F, Elle would do a small firing about every five minutes, thus keeping the stack temp at a constant 600*F or raise it. That got our boil rate to 40 gph for a bit. Our stack is twice the length of the evaporator but we are thinking we may experiment for next season and add another section of stack to increase the boil rate. Overall, we are pleased with our rig. It's the second year running it but first year we ran the rig to the point of sap in front pan, water in back pan (last year our stuff went ropey). We RO as we boil so our 80gph single post from the RO Bucket pairs very nicely with our pan set.

[Pdiamond]

Daniel, I ended up not doing any tapping this year. I got an infection where a guy shouldn't get an infection and man did that hurt. Couldn't hardly walk. I am just planning for next year now and would like to expand my operation out to about 200 taps. That is why I mentioned getting an RO.

[ScottT]

We were still boiling in The Thumb yesterday. Ended up pulling some of my taps, but left a small line still operational because the sugar trees hadn't popped. Spring Peepers were going wild.

Our sap was a little cloudy, but it didn't smell and tasted fine. When we went to boil it however, the whole sugarhouse smelled like a bakery. It had me worried, but the boiling sap wasn't ropey or stringy. As we go close to finishing the bakery smell went away and everything was fine. Probably once of our best batches of syrup. there was a little sap still flowing today from the lines and here's hoping the two nights of freezing temps this week keep it going a little longer.

This was our best year since we started a couple of years ago. Adding tubing on 3/16 mainlines and 5/16 drops was a game changer for us. If our silvers hadn't of popped so quickly, it would have been wild. I guess we nw know what our ceiling is for syrup production. Might have to upgrade next year. Not a bad thing.

[ebliese]

Anybody hear how those producers in the Northern Lower or UP are fairing? It looks like a pretty nasty ice storm which went through their area.

[ScottT]

I saw a few pictures on the Michigan Maple Syrup Cookers page on Facebook. Trees down, troubles getting into their sugarbush to check the lines. Looked pretty bad there. Can't imagine the damage it must have done to a lot of the larger producers.

[ScottT]

We pulled the majority of our taps on Saturday in The Thumb. However most of our sugar maples haven't opened yet. We collected very little the previous week, and the sap had been sitting out there for a few days so we dumped it. But with the temps this week going between 40 / 25 for most of the week, I was curious what we would get, so we left 13 taps in.

[ebliese]

Are these 13 taps buckets or your natural vac lines of 3/16ths?

[ScottT]

Are these 13 taps buckets or your natural vac lines of 3/16ths?

Natural Vacuum lines

[ScottT]

Following up on my last post. Left 12 taps on some sugar maples last week in The Thumb. All on 3/16 mainline.

Collected about 20 gallons of sap today. Buds still didn't look open yet. When I pulled the taps there was still sap coming from a few trees. However, many of my taps were plugged with pink mold.

Something to keep in mind for next year. The warmer temps last week probably doomed the taps and lines. But our Sugar maples in The Thumb are quite resilient.

Is there anything that helps prevent the taps clogging toward the end of the season? I'm on natural vacuum.

We flushed the remainder of our lines today, identified 8 more tapable sugar maples on the hill. Ended our season with 6-1/2 gallons of syrup. Our best year yet.

See you in the Fall....