North East Ohio 2025

[madmaples]

Anyone getting the itch to tap in the next couple of days?

Looks like the next week is going to have highs in the upper thirties around Chardon.

[WoodButcher]

I'm holding off till next weekend. We have a pretty heavy snow pack around tree roots, plus this has been the coldest winter in quite some time. My trees are still making that popping noise when the wind sways them. They're frozen...

Side note: I'm glad the Trader fixed their website format so we can still get together on this thread!

[djhemme]

I know it's probably a little early, but with temps in the 40s on Thursday and Friday by me I'll be tapping a portion of my trees then and the rest the following week. It'll probably be slow flowing, but with this winter we've had even 30s seems like a heat wave! Glad at least someone else is considering starting soon so I don't feel so crazy. Good luck!

[Ohio Maple Blaster]

Love to see some chatter getting started for '25! I had to take last season off due to life just getting busy, but very excited to get back at it this season, even with trying to work around our 7 month old's schedule! I was thinking about getting started in the next week or so, but deciding to wait since the new forecast is showing highs just at or above freezing. I'm all thrown off now that we're finally having a more typical winter!

[johnallin]

Just about ready over here.

Replaced 165 taps on back woods with new MVM arched spouts during Christmas break, still have 135 to do on the north woods.
Bought a new CDL 250 2-Post Hobby RO this year, and it's all set up and ready to rip.
Wood is all split, stacked and ready to go...thanks to help from son, grandsons and son in laws!
I sure hope this is a better year than last...will have the answer in April...game on.

[madmaples]

we definitely started tapping today, we put out about half of our taps (25) this evening, no flow yet. We'll probably get the rest (~30) out later this week.

https://imgur.com/a/5YI6TJA

[WoodButcher]

we definitely started tapping today, we put out about half of our taps (25) this evening, no flow yet. We'll probably get the rest (~30) out later this week.

https://imgur.com/a/5YI6TJA

Let us know when you start seeing drips.

[madmaples]

Quick evening update: most of my taps had at least a bit of a dribble, a couple of them got about a quart or so. Nothing to write home about, but looking to see how the next couple of days pan out.

[madmaples]

Another evening update, today we had a bit more of a run and collected about 20 gallons across our 25 tap, some are definitely still only trickling, while others were flowing pretty good. I'm considering putting out the rest of our taps tomorrow to catch Sunday/Monday

[johnallin]

Gallon per tap is respectable!

[WoodButcher]

That's a nice little run! This weather is a bit too bipolar for me to tap right now.
Even if I put my taps in today I wouldn't have enough to boil for a week based on the weather coming up. But that's just my setup.

[johnallin]

Got the membranes installed in the new RO yesterday and have completed the initial rinse-wash-rinse.
Was really surprised that it would take 5 hours for the wash last night, but it is what it is.
Unit shuts down automatically when wash water is at 109 degrees.

Did the rinse today and then installed fittings on a new 165 gal additional permeate tank.
Have just a few little things to set up in the sugar house and I’ll be tapping.

Looking like this is going to be a more traditional season than the past couple and I’m 100% OK with that.

Let the Games begin!

[christopherh]

Got the membranes installed in the new RO yesterday and have completed the initial rinse-wash-rinse.
Was really surprised that it would take 5 hours for the wash last night, but it is what it is.
Unit shuts down automatically when wash water is at 109 degrees.

Did the rinse today and then installed fittings on a new 165 gal additional permeate tank.
Have just a few little things to set up in the sugar house and I’ll be tapping.

Looking like this is going to be a more traditional season than the past couple and I’m 100% OK with that.

Let the Games begin!

John, I ended up putting in a heating element in mine to help the temperature come up. I had the same issue.

[johnallin]

John, I ended up putting in a heating element in mine to help the temperature come up. I had the same issue.

Thanks Chris! Made me crazy waiting, but I wasn't walking away until I knew it would shut down...don't think I'll worry next time. Just let it do it's thing I guess.
Hope to be boiling soon!

[johnallin]

So is anyone else in NE Ohio tapped yet?
Every time I think it’s time, all I see is a week of single digit lows.
Not real excited to go through all the work for maybe a one day run and then 10 days of frozen trees and equipment!

You could play hockey on the driveways over here.

[Kh7722]

Yes 3/4 tapped.
Will finish last week in Feb.

Hopefully march is a 4 week steady flow



So is anyone else in NE Ohio tapped yet?
Every time I think it’s time, all I see is a week of single digit lows.
Not real excited to go through all the work for maybe a one day run and then 10 days of frozen trees and equipment!

You could play hockey on the driveways over here.

[madmaples]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?

[johnallin]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?

Be careful with the tote, or any tank for that matter...make sure nothing nasty was in there. You'll ruin some nice syrup in a hurry.

[Hunt4sap]

I will start tapping our "yard" maples this weekend and see what's running soon

[WoodButcher]

I definitely tapped the first of my taps too early, they've been frozen for nearly two weeks, so I'm glad I held off on the rest of my taps. Keeping my fingers crossed for week after next. On a positive note, this freeze up gave me plenty of time to prepare setting up my very first tubing and build a little shurflo system.

I just need to find an IBC tote, I've been striking out finding any locally, does anyone have any good suggestions on where to get one?
Reach out to Ray Gingrich in Owell. He builds ROs and sells maple for a living, but also gets 275 gallon poly tanks from the old middlefield cheese plant quite frequently.
Last time I bought them from him they were about 75 each and looked almost new... Nothing stinky in them. Just some sort of cheese making by-product that's food grade.

440-422-3047

[johnallin]

Started tapping my back woods today and some trees were dripping.
Kind of surprised me as temps were hovering around 35 and as cold as it’s been.
Tough going with 10-12” of snow still in there and all the downed limbs etc.
Kids coming and will get started on the sugar house tomorrow and likely finish tapping after work this week.

Looks like we’re getting closer to game time. The forecast is looking better every day.

[christopherh]

I noticed a few dripping to. Sun beating on the trees definitely helps. All of my tubing taps are in, buckets tomorrow.

[miboss]

I got my ~470 tapped between yesterday and today. can't say anything is running, some holes seemed a little wet, but they are waking up. letting things run with the tank valve open to dump some of the nasty stuff in the lines.

sitting at 25" of vacuum right now, can't really chase leaks without sone bubbles to chase.

[Hunt4sap]

Tapped 20 this past weekend in about half of them were already running which surprised me. This week should be really good runs for my small operation

[miboss]

first boil last night, had about 1000 gal on 470 taps. Sugar was surprisingly up for me (2%), ill take that all season long

[christopherh]

We’re off to a slow start up here. It’ll get better though. Probably boil tomorrow night or Friday.

[ToddMoyer]

Super slow start, need some sunshine to get these trees out of their winter hibernation.

[johnallin]

Got sugar house ready last Sunday, but never did finish tapping this week and with temps in the 20's this weekend I don't think I'm missing anything.

Picked up a new tapping bit this week as mine was on season 4 and had been dropped in the woods one-too-many times.
Don't know how, but most every-time it dropped it face planted the bit 3" deep into the ground.
Battery only lasted for 50 some holes last week and my arm was getting tired - sure signs the bit is done...doesn't take much to ruin a good bit.

[johnallin]

Just got in from tapping north woods.
Got maybe 1/2 done…Da’m it’s cold out there today!

[miboss]

Finish 3rd boil after tapping last weekend. We had some great runs this week and made 50 gal in 3 boils (10,18,22) on 470 taps. All were a light amber (70,68,67).

Had a bit of a scare today when my head tank gauge froze up near our shutdown time, first time we ever boiled when <30 degrees, good thing we caught it in time.

[madmaples]

Reach out to Ray Gingrich in Owell. He builds ROs and sells maple for a living, but also gets 275 gallon poly tanks from the old middlefield cheese plant quite frequently.
Last time I bought them from him they were about 75 each and looked almost new... Nothing stinky in them. Just some sort of cheese making by-product that's food grade.

440-422-3047

Thanks for the recommendation! I picked up 2 totes from him this evening.

[miboss]

sap tsunami today...

[WoodButcher]

Quite a warm up next week... It looks like no freezing nights for 5+ days... Looks like I'll have to chase the back pan with permeate and finish everything and reset after the warmup...

[Hunt4sap]

Most all our Maples here in Northeast Ohio are budding, my Taps are pulled and I'm done for the season short but sweet

[miboss]

peepers were out last night for the first time here. Sadly, I think we're done here.

[forager]

We had some sap come in yesterday and it was milky straight from the lines, still at 1.4%. With snow on the ground this morning, I’m still afraid to say that’s a wrap. Was a great but short season.

[Darrel Wright]

I’ve heard the peepers, seen the daffodil shoots… and yet I’m going to see what this little temperature dip brings today and tomorrow. Just such an odd year. In growing degree days we’re right at that borderline (35) and the buds on the sugars and blacks are still at a point where we’ve made good syrup in the past. It will be interesting to see anyway.
Down year for us mostly because I kind of rolled into the season and only had like half our taps online for a couple of those early heavy days. Obviously this year we needed to be (and should have been) all laid out and ready for day 1. If I actually adjusted for that I think our per-tap is pretty good. It just all came all at once. I haven’t ever seen heavier single days there around last weekend.

[Sugarmaker]

Neighbors to our west,
Good to hear some maple stats. Yes agree that we in Northwest PA may be done with sap production soon. I don't expect much sap even though we had a good freeze last night.
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[Darrel Wright]

Definitely seeing some red tinge up in the silvers, and the sap this afternoon is flowing just a bit cloudy…. But I just did a test boil of a pint of sap and… it’s tasty. I think we’ll go ahead with this run.

[RC Maple]

I was hoping to find more sap in the buckets yesterday - we did have 29 degrees yesterday morning. The first few were dripping ok, but the rest, not so much. I think I'll gather up what is left today and do my last boil. I pulled the taps on my silvers last week after they really made a change. It's supposed to freeze Thursday night yet but after a couple more warm days. I think our numbers will end up being good. Good luck to all.

[Darrel Wright]

I pulled the taps on my silvers last week after they really made a change.
I’ve always pulled silvers early and was about to do so last week, but read a few opinions that they really don’t produce bad sap until after the flowers are fully red. So I guess I’m testing that theory this year because I’ve still got them hooked in. I might actually segregate some silver sap today and do a test boil comparison.

[RC Maple]

I might actually segregate some silver sap today and do a test boil comparison.

I'd be interested to know how that comes out. It seems like my silvers usually just quit instead of producing bad sap - I was tempted to leave them tapped but they're connected with the rest of my sugar maples on tubing on my setup at home -so I was playing it safe. As for pulling the plug like I said yesterday - that didn't happen. I had a half gallon run yesterday of nice-looking sap and made some good syrup with it last night. We'll see what the next freeze does. If the earth will yield it's increase, who am I to say no?

[johnallin]

Where's everyone been this year, sure has been quiet seems like Trader fading off into the sunset.

Used to enjoy the reports from local producers.

[johnallin]

All taps pulled as of today. Not too shabby with the 70F temps.
Pretty weird year all in all though with the cold start I was sure it’d be more traditional.
For the third year in a row I dumped more sap than I used to. I just didn’t have it in me to run junk through my rig.
And for the third year in a row, I was about 2 weeks late to the party, so go figure.
Equally concerning, to me anyway, is the lack of traffic on Trader…I used to look forward to local reports on sap runs and quality and how local sugar houses were doing in general - that seems to be a thing of the past?

[Pdiamond]

John I myself have been on the trader for some time and agree with you. There used to be a lot more posts during the season. I am on this site almost every day all year long. It is one of my favorite sites and just a place to relax.

[BAP]

All taps pulled as of today. Not too shabby with the 70F temps.
Pretty weird year all in all though with the cold start I was sure it’d be more traditional.
For the third year in a row I dumped more sap than I used to. I just didn’t have it in me to run junk through my rig.
And for the third year in a row, I was about 2 weeks late to the party, so go figure.
Equally concerning, to me anyway, is the lack of traffic on Trader…I used to look forward to local reports on sap runs and quality and how local sugar houses were doing in general - that seems to be a thing of the past?
This year has been quite compared to the past years. Used to be I would get up in the morning, drink my coffee, open Trader and click on the “What’s New” button and get 2-3 pages of posts. This year it was lucky to get 3/4 of a page. I think people are using other forms of social media more.

[johnallin]

This year has been quite compared to the past years. ..... I think people are using other forms of social media more.

I think you have the answer. It's a shame as there's a wealth of information here.
Losing the ability to post pics may have had a big part in the migration....

[RC Maple]

Losing the ability to post pics may have had a big part in the migration....

I do think that has played a role. The issue has been raised in different parts of the forum, and nothing has been done to improve it. My taps were pulled a week ago and boiled the last two small runs from the taps still producing. I expected a good run on 3/21, but that was the day half my taps decided they had enough warm temps and gdd's and called it quits. I boiled down what was left in the pan on the turkey fryer Thursday night and have all the syrup in the fridge waiting to do our last canning session. I'm looking forward to seeing our totals for the year and will post the numbers when all is wrapped up. While the weather is good, I've been cleaning up every night...buckets are washed, taps cleaned and put away lines are down but need cleaned before storing for the season. Cleanup is a bigger job than doing the work while the sap's running.

[Ohio Maple Blaster]

Totally felt the same way. I took last season off, but was looking forward to another year of checking in here to see how my runs were comparing to others throughout the season. Always used the input from others here almost as a confirmation that is was a good time to get taps in. Plus I like to just stay up to date with new tech that guys are adding, or what they are workshopping this year. Hopefully there is a rebound here in the future.

I did get in one good boil this season, and was able to finish just over 1.5 gallons. In an average year I would shoot for 7, which is enough for me for the year plus plenty to give away, and always had plenty for curing bacon/making breakfast links.

Having a 9 month old was certainly the reason for my limited availability this season, but hoping that she picks it up when she's older and can use MT herself!

Thanks for everyone's input this year, you guys are the best!