sugaring in iowa

hello everyone, sorry I haven't posted for awhile. We had a family issue and had to go out to Colorado in a hurry a couple of weeks ago. During the best time of the sap running most of my taps were running on the ground. When I got back home it was just about over. I still have some thats just about finished in the refrigerator. I should end up with about 3 gallons of finished syrup altogether. It was fun, now I will have to start looking to next year. It sounds like some of you guys didn't do to bad this year. My silver maples didn't do that great this year either. My sap sacks with the ice bags and pvc pipes did well this year. I may have to make some more before next year. If anyone else has learned anything helpful let us know. thanks everyone.

Any other Iowans getting the itch? Ted

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Originally Posted by tbear

Any other Iowans getting the itch? Ted

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After this morning -16 I think it will be a while but yes we are getting ready. Marked a new timber this fall that will add another 28 taps of black maple - should put us close to 180 taps this year

I just logged on to see if any of you guys had added anything since last year. I am looking forward to this year. I will probably tap the same amount as last year. It would be nice to have some sugar or black maples to tap but I don't.

Anybody itching to tap yet. After looking at the long range forecast it might be the week of March 10th for us. Last year we tapped the second week of February. Oh Well

Hi Everyone,
Itching to tap doesn't even come close! What a winter! I've been thinking about and daydreaming about tapping since before Christmas! Checking on MAPLETRADER was the only thing that kept me sane these last few months. I usually don't look that far into the future but this year was kind of different. My wife, who is a wonderful lady and the finest woman I've ever met, is also the cause of my early "spring fever" as, shortly before Christmas, there was a large box delivered from Atkinson's. Hmmm, wonder what's in here? The next day a box comes from Boscoms! I was off and running from there on! Checking the extended forecast every few hours, lurking on the forum for hours on end, thinking of ways I might improve my process,etc..
But at long last, and not without help from my Beautiful Wife, The DAY has come! I'll spend some time with my dad tomorrow morning then try to get 15 or 20 taps in and hopefully finish up tapping Saturday. Good luck Everybody and have fun!

OH, and the boxes? Buckets, lids, spiles, and a temporary grading kit! YAHTZEE!!!!! What a wife! Ted

Best of luck. Hope you get to use that new equipment a lot yet. Who knows, temps may moderate though March you you.

We spent last night washing buckets and lids - We are putting in 40 taps after work tonight and Saturday running the tubing and putting out the buckets with the drop lines in - Looks like the next 10 days are ideal - FINALLY!!!!! Bill

Hi Everyone,
I didn't get as far as I thought I would today. I did get trails blazed so I can at least get to my trees. Only buried the tractor once! I think my son is coming tomorrow AM to help me tap. My grandson wanted to, but got the flu instead.

I'm right there with you Bill, the forecast looks GREAT! Upmep? How are you set these days? Frank? YO! FRANK! Are you out there?

I'm about as excited as an older guy should probably get! Anyway, good luck everyone, and have fun! Ted

I put in 2 taps in a silver maple in my yard about a week and a half ago. I have been watching it but nothings happening. I went out to the farm today and put in 21 taps. From the looks of the forecast it should start pretty quick. I think I will go back and put 30 more tomorrow at the farm. Bnbmaplesyrup you had it right on when you said it would be the 10th of March before things would get going,and you said that on the 24th of February. I hope it lasts a few weeks. I hope we don't go from winter to summer. There is a lot of frost in the ground. I wonder if that will affect anything. Ready to get going. Upmep