Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

Got home from a show last night at 12:30 and it was right about 32 degrees and sap was still running. This morning at 7 am it was 31 and sap was running lightly. Ice in the sap lifter and sap coming down dry line. Now it is pushing 50 and sap is running hard and ssc is back at 2.1% after going down to 1.8%. Buckets are even dripping. We did not get a hard freeze but it seems it was enough to get the trees dripping.

Running the ro now as two tanks are full as about 700 came in since 2 pm yesterday. Going out for a bit this afternoon so I need the tank space. Will finish ro'ing whatever we get today later and boil this evening. I think we still have several more days here. T0morrow will be warm but cool nights should keep us going.

We didn't freeze hard last night. Some of the puddles were frozen over and the road was firm. Low right around the sugarhouse was around 35 deg F, but we might have had a light freeze in some of the colder pockets of the woods. Sometimes it is far warmer up here on the hill, and all the cold air drains down into the valleys. On the positive side, the sap ran all night and the tanks are 2/3 full with the sap still coming in, so we'll be making a good amount of syrup today. Despite that...we need some cold weather, and the forecast is looking kind of skimpy on that.

Taphole sanitation is really becoming a major factor. For those trees with used spouts, the sap is now 1/2 or less of those with new spouts, and the trees with new drops or CV spouts are doing best. That effect will only get larger with the rest of the season.

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Originally Posted by DrTimPerkins

We didn't freeze hard last night. Some of the puddles were frozen over and the road was firm. Low right around the sugarhouse was around 35 deg F, but we might have had a light freeze in some of the colder pockets of the woods. Sometimes it is far warmer up here on the hill, and all the cold air drains down into the valleys. On the positive side, the sap ran all night and the tanks are 2/3 full with the sap still coming in, so we'll be making a good amount of syrup today. Despite that...we need some cold weather, and the forecast is looking kind of skimpy on that.

Taphole sanitation is really becoming a major factor. For those trees with used spouts, the sap is now 1/2 or less of those with new spouts, and the trees with new drops or CV spouts are doing best. That effect will only get larger with the rest of the season.

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When there is frost/freeze still in the ground, it will come up at night and freeze standing water on top of the ground even when the air temps don't get below freezing. I know Dr Tim knows this, but others may not. You may see frozen puddles and think you got a freeze when in reality it was the frost in the ground freezing over the standing water.

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Originally Posted by WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER

When there is frost/freeze still in the ground, it will come up at night and freeze standing water on top of the ground even when the air temps don't get below freezing. I know Dr Tim knows this, but others may not. You may see frozen puddles and think you got a freeze when in reality it was the frost in the ground freezing over the standing water.

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Absolutely. I do know some areas of the bush did get below freezing. We have a lot of Smartrek sensors deployed throughout our woods.

Dr. Perkins, what was the lowest temperatures recorded by your smartrek sensors last night?

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Originally Posted by can'twaitforabigrun

Dr. Perkins, what was the lowest temperatures recorded by your smartrek sensors last night?

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Without going back to look again, I believe some spots hit about 30.5 deg F.

pulled the plug, enough wood for one more fire. processing now boil tomorrow night for last time this season. were at 248 should pull off 6-8 gallons tomorrow. sugar down to 1.4=58-1. start looking at upgrades for next year. at least get the new ro up and running. thinking about a ray gingrich? ro. from what a lot of people on here say they really like his stuff. his at 5k+ approx and CDL 500 is 13k hummmm. never made any B a dark with robust

Rusty you can't be folding the tent this early with the homemade RO. Only guy I know that makes 50 gals of syrup to a 30 gallon trash barrel full of empty beer cans.

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Originally Posted by Sweet Maple Trees

Rusty you can't be folding the tent this early with the homemade RO. Only guy I know that makes 50 gals of syrup to a 30 gallon trash barrel full of empty beer cans.

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ill take a picture of this year but didnt come close to 250 gal syrup.:lol:
30 gal trash can, 30 gal black plastic trash bag and a few in a box that had bottles in it

in 8 hr it ran 50 gallons, nothing like it has been last few days.

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Originally Posted by Flat Lander Sugaring

pulled the plug, enough wood for one more fire. processing now boil tomorrow night for last time this season. were at 248 should pull off 6-8 gallons tomorrow. sugar down to 1.4=58-1. start looking at upgrades for next year. at least get the new ro up and running. thinking about a ray gingrich? ro. from what a lot of people on here say they really like his stuff. his at 5k+ approx and CDL 500 is 13k hummmm. never made any B a dark with robust

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Rusty - Before you drop the cash on a Deer Run consider looking for a used machine. I have been super impressed with the Springtech I bought for not much more than one of Ray's machines. Much better design with higher quality components.

Sap is still running well here thanks to last night's freeze. Just enough to get the trees recharged and bring up the sugar content. Made another 20+ tonight and up to 244. Went to Amber Rich but flirting with Dark Robust.