North East Ohio 2023

I’m still pulling sap in but the past 24 hrs it’s been really cloudy and funky smelling.
Buds here are still tight and it’s been cold but what I’m getting doesn’t reflect those conditions.

Just dumped 300 gallons and going to let everything rest thinking this cold snap may clear it up.
I hated to do it but, just not up for spoiling what I’ve got in the rig and/or wasting time and wood…
I saw that movie once before…I was in it…the ending wasn’t pretty.
Anyone else around here seeing the same or is it the clear press’s fault?

John I made some pretty good tasting dark last night from some questionable sap that I collected in the last couple days.
And also a major change in draw off temp last night (like over a whole degree difference).

Still going here. Definitely has slowed down. I’m still pulling in sap right now at 33 degrees outside. Made some nice dark Sunday and will boil again tomorrow. Hang in there, we’ve got a little more to come.

I don't think it's over, just some funky sap runs.
With the cold temps and snow we had last night, I'm looking for a re-set.
Thinking trees and lines were filling with junk from the mild temps...now it's looking like lows in the 20's - highs in the 30's for the next week or more.

Definitely looks like another week probably 2.
Get all you can!

Sunshine was a big help today! Sap was clear, back to amber.

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Originally Posted by christopherh

Sunshine was a big help today! Sap was clear, back to amber.

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I pulled a small amount in yesterday and it was much clearer.
Checked this afternoon and it was trickling in and still clearer than last week.
Fingers crossed for some good clear sap and a chance to make some light.

Finally sap is crystal clear again.
Pic taken a few minutes ago of the releaser.
About 1/2 gpt today and expect more tomorrow.

Attachment 23009

Just starting to wind down this year. Haven’t posted in a couple years. We’ve been up and down on taps, dependent on availability each season. This year we did 10 taps, and only got to process 3 days. But, pretty excited for next year as we’ve been working on a lean to to house an evaporator. 8x8 footprint and the roof will be 12x12. All lumber either laying around, or pine timber from the woods. My dad and I have been into it since the beginning and it’s a great bonding experience. Attachment 23029Attachment 23030

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

Nothing out of the ordinary here.

It's great that you are getting to enjoy the time with your father. Treasure that time because there will come a day when you will miss him. I know.

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Originally Posted by heus

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

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Jason
Can’t say we’ve had more, but I am cleaning the pans more than previous years as it seems I have more time between boils.
Boiled again today and put up 3 gal of real nice dark amber. Sap was clear as a bell and foam up in flue pan was nothing like earlier boils. No sap came in though as woods are still too cold. Maybe tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by heus

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

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I've cleaned so many times this year it's ridiculous. Boiled yesterday and I'll be cleaning today just to make it go faster than Friday's cleaning

I have gotten into the habit of going to the sugarhouse on my way to work, draining the sweet from the syrup pan, and filling with a white vinegar solution that I reuse. Prior to boiling I drain the vinegar, take the syrup pan outside, and rinse with water. In the past I only had to do that maybe once every 2-3 boils but it has been needed every time this year.

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Originally Posted by heus

Has anyone else in the area had an unusually high amount of niter this year? This has been a great season so far but perhaps the worst niter in my syrup pan that I have experienced.

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I was wondering the same thing. I have tapped two sets of trees this year. I thought that when I tapped the second woods, maybe the niter would be less. I have been cleaning the syrup section of the pan after almost every boil. The same as heus, I drain the pan, leave vinegar in it for the day, drain and rinse the pan for the next boil. I have had it before but seems much more frequent this year.

It's been fine here this year. The draw off divider usually just has a thin layer of niter on it that flakes off with a 3hr hot milkstone soak. The Orlon has been fine too. Real dark this last boil over the weekend but still Amber Rich!

After a week of cold; I turned vac back on this morning and after clearing out some ice, sap was coming in.
Checked mid-afternoon and had about .5 GPT in the tank.
So far buds are still tight and sap has gone back to clear.

I don't hear the fat lady yet...but then I can't hear very good...just ask my wife <grin>.

Sap on vac coming in pretty decent here. Buckets are pretty much done, not much in them if any. Sap is nice and clear.

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Originally Posted by christopherh

Sap on vac coming in pretty decent here. Buckets are pretty much done, not much in them if any. Sap is nice and clear.

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Chris.
That's exactly what I'm seeing over here.
Don't know how much longer, but forecast looks good and today's sap was just like yours...clear, and I'll take it.
This weekend will be 5 weeks tapped in over here...I thought I was late but maybe not so bad after all.
Boiled last Sat and put up 3 1/2 gal of amber, again with amazing taste.

Peepers out in full force this morning and brought me a full tank of sap! Working on 1.5 gpt since yesterday morning. I’m guessing this is my last weekend

Same here full tank!...Can't hear very well so have no idea what the peeper's are up to.

http://mapletrader.com/community/att...id=23064&stc=1

John, how big is that tank you have a picture of?

Wow! What a run. Back to light! Peepers have been quiet this way. Vac ran strong but my 3/16 runs have really slowed. Hoping for another good run next week.

No peepers here, either. Some of my buckets are dried up, while others are running over. They have been in for 6 weeks.

Finished up a few days ago and got the last batch in the can. Finished with 115gal so very good year. Tapped Feb 2 , overall sap was very sweet but filtering became a problem after 4 weeks in. Overall a good season , better than expected with such a warm winter. Hope everyone had a good year.

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Originally Posted by Pdiamond

John, how big is that tank you have a picture of?

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CDL 4x3x4 330 Gal

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Originally Posted by heus

No peepers here, either. Some of my buckets are dried up, while others are running over. They have been in for 6 weeks.

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I got about 350 gallons total on Friday and have it down to 100 at 4½%. All froze up in the sugar house over the weekend so will boil it down tonight.
No peepers over here!

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Originally Posted by christopherh

Wow! What a run. Back to light! Peepers have been quiet this way. Vac ran strong but my 3/16 runs have really slowed. Hoping for another good run next week.

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I turned vac back on this afternoon, I think it'll run through tonight and then shut down with no more freezes for the rest of the week...or make that a year?

That’s my plan as well John, I’ll keep things going until the sap fizzles out. Taking awhile for the trees to thaw today.

Thank you for the information. It sure looks bigger than that.

Same here. Maybe snag some more sap tomorrow and then call it a year.

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Originally Posted by WoodButcher

Same here. Maybe snag some more sap tomorrow and then call it a year.

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Boiled last night and made 5 gal of real nice tasting syrup.
Left vac on but not much in the tank this morning - maybe .3 GPT will see what's there when I get home.

For the third time this year the flue pan foamed up into the steam hood and had foam coming out of the drain tube!
Other than a first boil, I can't remember that ever happening. Crazy year for sure.

Still getting decent quality and volumes of sap here, definitely worth the time to leave on a squeeze all we can out of it. This time of year leaving vac on and high vacuum make all the difference.

Time will tell, but the end is near.

Just finished Boil 21 for the season, still tastes great.

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Originally Posted by Kh7722

Just finished Boil 21 for the season, still tastes great.

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Way to go Kevin....Not as many boils, but the same here..,all good syrup.
Early start, long season, and buds are still tight - just weird as heck, this year's going to be one for the books..

Wrapping up what turned out to be a fantastic season in Ashtabula County. Doing my final bottling today, and expect to end up having over .4 gallons per tap. That's great considering I'm on buckets. That's even more per tap than a couple of my seasons on vac. Tapped first week of February and boiled around 25 times. Sugar content never went below 2%.
Final stats: 50 gallons made on 107 buckets.
.47 gallons per tap. Second best ratio in my 13 years of sugaring, with several of those years on vac. Never made any very dark robust, which is my favorite. #1 factor in this ratio is of course the great weather we have had. Secondly, I have my choice of 1200 or so taps in my woods, and am only tapping a little over 100 now, so I have the luxury of choosing my very best sugar maples.

Good for you, heus. Been a while since I had a year like that. Weather just not cooperating down here in west central Ohio. And yes, you know your 1,200 trees and you put your best players on the field.

pulled in another couple thousand gallons today out of my 30P. made 185 gallons of some real nice amber. best stuff ive put through my Clear Press this year.

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Originally Posted by fred

pulled in another couple thousand gallons today out of my 30P. made 185 gallons of some real nice amber. best stuff ive put through my Clear Press this year.

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Gotta love that Leader 30P Tube and nice to see you got a good press...

Been busy in the woods!
Moving our pump house 500’ back and installing several hundred additional taps. Huge project which will allow us to expand in the future. New vacuum pump coming and several other changes, looking forward to it! Will be tapping soon.

Anything else happening out there? Besides the clear filter presses?