Selling bulk sap only

[frostbite]

At one point prior to the season, I was reading a thread about selling bulk sap to syrup makers, but now I can't find it. I'm wondering what the prices paid are for bulk sap and there was a table in that thread.

The reason I ask is because I'm looking at buying a piece of property that has a nice maple stand and was considering whether or not any income could be made by just selling the sap collected. I definitely don't have the time to make syrup right now, so setting up to sell sap might be an optoin as I already have a buyer.

Finally, does anybody currently do what I'm contemplating? Thoughts or opinions?

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

frostbite,
I buy sap every year. Some from people like you who only tap and sell sap and some from producers who only have the capacity for smaller amounts of sap and are overwhelmed by a big run. Some of my producers use this as a method to start making syrup on their own. Invest in the bush and then use the money generated by that to build a sugar house and buy an evaporator. Some take their pay in syrup (at a wholesale price) and some in cash, and some in combination's. I pay according to a table that is published yearly in The Maple Digest Feb. issue. I find the price fair and believe my producers do too. I pick up some sap and some is delivered. The price paid is for delivered sap and I charge 1.25/loaded mile to pick it up myself. I write in the agreement (get it in writing) that off color and late season sap will be docked in price. (I can't sell B and C for what I can A). Hope this helps.
Doug

[frostbite]

Doug - that does help. That table was put on this site, but I can't find it, nor can I even remember a ball-park number to work with when I think about this property.

Thanks

[briansickler]

I believe it's about 33 cents per gallon for 2% sugar content.

Brian

[brookledge]

Every year in the maple syrup digest they print suggested prices for sap based on the sugar content. It is just a guide and can vary alot based on geographical area and the demand for it. Surely if you have sap to sell and only one producer is interested in buying it, you are at their mercy. But on the otherhand if there are 2-3 within a short drive then it becomes a little more competitive. If you don't get the digest maybe someone can post that page. Or just wait until 2011 prices.
With a good setup and on vacuum good days should net you about 2 gal per tap and average days 1 gal per tap. You can do the math using .30-.40 per gallon
Keith

[lpakiz]

This year at my location, it was 12 and 14 cents per gallon per point.
2% would be 24 or 28 cents per gallon. Neat thing to use the rule of 86 and find out that the cost of enough sap to produce a gallon of syrup is always the same $$, no matter what the suger percentage is.

[maple flats]

I have already contacted a local producer for next year because I am adding vac for up to 550 taps and also bringing total total tap count to 900+. He will buy anything I have extra at the price listed in maple Digest next Jan. (or was it Feb.?). This season it would have been $.325/gal for 2%. A scale is published each year for 1% up to 5 or 5.5% by tenths as a price some producers pay for sap delivered to the sugarhouse, he will pay that price. The following year I should then have an RO and will then buy sap if I can.

[Fred Henderson]

I believe it's about 33 cents per gallon for 2% sugar content.

Brian

33 cents!! what year was that. In this years maple digest it was .78 for 4%

[briansickler]

33 cents!! what year was that. In this years maple digest it was .78 for 4%

Last year.....Actually $.325 per gallon for 2% I didn't say anything about 4% price..

[frostbite]

Thanks guys - this has been very helpful.

This question might have too many variables, but what kind of capital outlay am I looking at for 10 acres on vacuum?

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

$5 per tap plus pump,releaser and tanks. That is with your own FREE labor:)

[MapleChaser]

There is a lot of differences based on your area of woods. I can give you my situation. We just set up last year 1400 taps.

The first 1200 feet was installed without any branch lines that is a 1 1/4 wet line 1 1/2 dry line. Our total run of wet/dry was 3300 feet. All of our branch lines where 1 inch. With my tanks and liguid ring pump and a releaser we are right around $ 9.00 p/tap.

Each layout will be different base on sizes of wet/dry.

MC

[maple flats]

Yes 4% was $.785. I'll show a few prices from the 2010 list by Maple Digest. 1%=.05, 1.5%=.20, 2%=.325, 2.5%=.45, 3%= .575, 3.5%= .685, 4%= .785, 4.5%= .885, 5%=.985 and 5.5%= 1.085. Realize this was published in Vol. 22A, NO. 1, Feb 2010 in Maple Syrup Digest to suggest the prices some producers in the Northeast pay for sap delivered to the sugarhouse. It is stated that these are listed only as a guide and in no way dictates the industry price. May all of your sap be 5.5%. My sap usually averages between 2 and 2.5% This year I made 32 gal on 1203 gal sap for a 2.29% sugar. As I get thinned better and add more roadside this should rise on average.

[Fred Henderson]

I paid 10 cents a gallon under the Digest price because it had bark and other debris in it. I told the guy that if he would just put it thru a 100 micron bag filter I could give him a little more. He was happy with what I paid. Previously he had been taking it to a freind and getting nothing, not even a little syrup. Just a thanks a lot and see you again, and the seller was hauling it 25 miles one way.

[frostbite]

Thanks again guys - now I've got a better idea.

A couple mentioned releaser - please excuse my ignorance - but, what's that?

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

The releaser is between your vacuum pump and your pipe line. It allows the sap to accumlate several gallons and then "release" into your sap tank while still maintaining vacuum on your sap lines and not drawing sap into your vacuum pump. Unfortunately it is one of the more expensive items you will need.
Doug