Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

Traveling for business this year, I didn't tap in until Tuesday March 6th. In the first 9 days of my season, with only one additional tap, I've collected 78% of the sap I've collected all last year -- just over a gallon per tap per day. 34-35 degrees and snowing, and steady runs, every day.

I hang 31 buckets, so over 300 gallons for me. With good wood, my little half-pint evaporator will boil down about 5 gallons an hour... thank goodness for the little "bucket RO” I got at the end of last season -- that little thing has been cranking almost non-stop, so I've been able to keep-up.

We do a fair amount of "hiking" to get up and out of our yard/woods. But with all the snow yesterday, tractor stayed in the garage, and it was all hiking... looking forward to some under-30 temps the next few days to catch our breath :)

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Originally Posted by spud

Sap is running 160 GPH right now. I'm glad I turned the pump back on. If it's going to run today then it might run tomorrow also. Tomorrow's temp is supposed to be 2-4 degrees warmer.

Spud

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Spud, where are you located. My releaser only dumped twice all day yesterday. lol

I am on the border of Canada. Yesterday I got 550 gallons of sap from my trees that run into my sugar house. It was coming from the trees facing South and east. Others in the area said it ran a little for them also.

Spud

It ran pretty well wensday and Thursday, I pulled almost gallons and half per tap at 34-36 degrees!! Will be interesting to see what happens after this cold snap, may be quick end who knows.....

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Originally Posted by blissville maples

Will be interesting to see what happens after this cold snap, may be quick end who knows.....

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We've got enough snow on the ground to take us through May! At least 3' of new snow with this past storm. Hasn't got near warm enough up here to run for over a week.

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Same here! it wanted to run the day before yesterday, but my laterals are frozen solid from tap to saddle. it looked like the sap was starting to push the taps out of the tree because it couldn't go anywhere in the frozen lines! I think i'll have some work to do in the woods once we get some warmer weather. powder up above my knees will be fun.

I am pretty happy about the snow. Hope it helps to keep us going for a long time and moderate the big sun, warm days that will be coming. It's heavy and wet too so should be around for a while. This week is similar to this week last year. We got 3' of snow and sap didn't run for a long time.

Same here I have nothing in 11 days and the 11 before that I had 8 runs 1 1/2 got. I have 22 inches on settled snow on my wood shed.
But I had several great days skiing.

With the amount of snow stretching from northern VT to western and northern Maine, if this spring doesn't have any crazy 80 degree days the syrup yield is going to be epic. Suck sap!!

I agree that things are looking real good in the weeks to come. Even if the temps hit 70-80 the sap will still flow for a week at a rate of .5 to 1 GPT each day. Those that are above 50% of last years production should at least hit their last years overall numbers. I think it's time for the packers to build bigger warehouses. :)

Spud