Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

We replace about 1/3 of our drops each year, so no drops are used more than 3 years. And unless I'm really pressed for time, I avoid unions/connectors when doing repairs, replacing whole sections of lateral from drop to drop. I don't do any cleaning at the end of the season, just make sure all lines are empty and dry. Our oldest laterals are 6 years old. We've replaced some gummy sections here and there, but by and large the laterals appear clean and unchanged other than some UV fading. BUT, we definitely get clogs, typically in Ts or even more commonly, in the connector hook fitting at the bottom of the line, just before the mainline saddle connection. I've gotten good at locating clogs and spend as much time as I can checking lines during good runs. Also, as we've put in new sections, the better yields from first-year, new tubing systems is obvious. Our syrup yield last year was 0.4/tap. We are using CV spouts this year for the first time. Not expecting them to have an impact on clogs, but who knows.

We have our tanks in the sugarhouse and evaporator ready to be hooked up for a first fire by CDL on 2/20. Time to build the RO room and then get tapping. It would be nice to be further ahead....

Mike

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Originally Posted by drewlamb

We replace about 1/3 of our drops each year, so no drops are used more than 3 years. And unless I'm really pressed for time, I avoid unions/connectors when doing repairs, replacing whole sections of lateral from drop to drop. I don't do any cleaning at the end of the season, just make sure all lines are empty and dry. Our oldest laterals are 6 years old. We've replaced some gummy sections here and there, but by and large the laterals appear clean and unchanged other than some UV fading. BUT, we definitely get clogs, typically in Ts or even more commonly, in the connector hook fitting at the bottom of the line, just before the mainline saddle connection. I've gotten good at locating clogs and spend as much time as I can checking lines during good runs. Also, as we've put in new sections, the better yields from first-year, new tubing systems is obvious. Our syrup yield last year was 0.4/tap. We are using CV spouts this year for the first time. Not expecting them to have an impact on clogs, but who knows.

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Thanks. I bet CVs will help with yield at least, maybe not with clogs. And using the slide hook fittings could be good if/when you replace lateral, instead of the hook connector. Good luck this season.

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Originally Posted by WestfordSugarworks

Thanks. I bet CVs will help with yield at least, maybe not with clogs.

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That's correct. There appear to be two issues with 3/16" tubing. The first is the standard sanitation-related drop-off in yield over time. That is addressed the same way as it is in 5/16" tubing, with new spouts annually in combination with periodic replacement of droplines OR the use of CV spouts OR proper use of sanitizers (followed by rinse or allowing the first sap to run on the ground). The second issue is clogging with occurs at any type of fitting. Clogging is not a problem the first year, is relatively minor the second, but increases considerably after that. Since tees represent the majority of fittings in a 3/16" system, clogs tend to develop there. Sanitation-related strategies of new spouts and CVs are NOT effective in solving the problems of clogs. Replacement of drops is (the clogs are removed if the tees are replaced as part of drop replacement). Whether the use of sanitizer will also solve this problem remains to be seen, but is under study this year at UVM PMRC and at Cornell. Stay tuned....

Long term forecast (for what it's worth) looks like there isn't much of a warm up in sight. Town meeting day tapping just like the old days.
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/produc...14temp.new.gif

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Originally Posted by billyinvt

Long term forecast (for what it's worth) looks like there isn't much of a warm up in sight.

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Fine by me. We're all tapped, but still have some research projects to finish setting up.

Thanks for that info about 3/16 Dr. Tim. Will be interested in results of ongoing work.

This weather is really throwing me for a loop this year.

Our test fire with CDL went great on Wednesday. Time to get the vacuum setup and put the taps in.

While in the woods yesterday i noticed some of my spouts popped out of the trees. I sure hope this is not going to be a season long problem. I remember General having a bunch of this happen to him a few years ago. The ten day forecast shows no signs of sap running. I'm hoping the season starts the third week of March and runs hard for four weeks straight. The snow is still very deep in the wood. I hope the rain tomorrow melts some.

Spud