Getting ready for the season. They are starting in Missouri, so the season has started. I am thinking about the middle of February, which is not that far away now. What do you think?
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Getting ready for the season. They are starting in Missouri, so the season has started. I am thinking about the middle of February, which is not that far away now. What do you think?
We’ll keep an eye on the weather. We’re back up to 400 taps, shouldn’t take long to tap in. Won’t be any earlier than mid-February for us unless the weather does something really wacky. The scary part is unlike most years it looks like we will be ready. New tank getting set today!
It wont be long now. We are up to about 500 taps this year and should have 1/4 of those on a test Shurflow pump system running of solar panels. Still some work to do to get the sugar house ready but we will get there.
We are thinking of getting one of those shurflow pumps. After we cut wood next year maybe...
I am going to predict an early start to the season based on how warm this winter has been already. Of course we'll probably freeze up in March...
I am wondering if the lack of thorough chilling will mean a shorter season also. Any opinions on that?
I have been working with a friend of mine, and we put the taps in last week and we already got over 300gallons. but most of that was discarded cleaning the lines, we kept about 100gallons.
We're finally getting some regular winter weather. I think we've already lost some sap, but if it keeps a reasonable temperature for the next few weeks, it's going to be okay. I think if it wants to start up any time after the middle of February is fine by me!
I gotta believe the season will come earlier than last year but still plenty of winter left to go. We're planning to be ready by mid February but too far off to know when we tap in.
It's going to be in the 40's today and tomorrow. This is the third time we have had a "January thaw". I hope it doesn't freeze up in February! We are planning on tapping in the middle of February.
It's been difficult to not start drilling holes. The temp swing have been dead on for good runs. We usually tap 2nd week in February. In the mean time, 90% of my Shurflo vac system parts have arrived so I'll concentrate on getting that going.Quote:
Originally Posted by Revi
Fight the urge guys! Sun angle still low, days still short and its only 40 degrees for a few hours. I too am getting excited about maple but trying to focus on other things.
I dropped in an observation tap today on a 12+ " sugar maple that I have tapped twice before, just to see what might be going on. Tapped at noon and I had 3 pints by 4:30. I brought it In to the house to check the sugar content. I put it on the refractometer expecting to see 3 or more, as I remember this tree providing, and I got............1.4. Needless to say I was a bit underimpressed. The refractometer was checked.
My question is does the sugar content start out low as a tree thaws and starts to flow, or does it start high from the get go? I know it drops as the season progresses. This low number has me concerned.
Would appreciate some opinions and or thoughts!
Looks like the temperatures will be a little too low to get any real sap early next week. But it is time to get the saphouse ready and the lines fixed. Last time I was down there a couple days ago I noticed that that the wire for my wet line was completely slack. I didn't go up into the woods to see what had happened. This is the first time I've had a high tensile wire break. I expect I'll be tapping midweek with the hopes of collecting sap by the weekend. Have to keep an eye on the forecast between now and then. Who's tapped already? Was it worth it?
Good to hear from you Steve. I too will finish repairs and installing new drops/taps this weekend so we are ready to go. But next week still looks like winter so I'm going fishing. Going to wait until at least the following weekend now.
We are tapping in Lewiston today and Sumner tomorrow. Might not collect much sap this week but if we have enough to sweeten the pans next weekend I'll be happy with that. Also hoping to do some testing and tuning on the new Shurflo Solar Sap Sucker this week. Cant wait to see how it works out and see if it was really worth it.
Good luck in west sumner. Let us know how you’re doing.
Put about 300 taps in Friday afternoon and finished the last 100 today. For once I think I'm ahead of schedule! I guess that means something will probably break soon, usually how it goes.
I put in over a hundred taps yesterday. Will probably do a similar number today in the warmest part of the day. I plan to be all tapped by noon Saturday. If it warms up enough to run in the afternoon I'll look for leaks and flush the lines. Should be able to boil next week, though I'm not expecting big runs.
If the temps hold for next week, it looks like it could be the beginning of consistent runs. Probably take part of Saturday to get things thawed but after that, we could be on track for a good sap flood.
So how did the sap run today? I decided last week to change 400 taps over to 3/16 in my spare time so I'm not ready yet but curious what I am missing. Took down the 5/16 and added about 30 feet in elevation drop so I hope it is all worth it.
While I’ve been away on a fishing trip, my buddy got things ready to go. He said he’ll start tapping this afternoon. I’ll join him when I get home or finish it tomorrow. Good luck everyone, hopefully get a run this week.
Going to deploy my buckes today -- about 100 of them. The weather looks good for 3 days, and then a question mark about next weekend. I just read a science-based article that suggests there is less of a gamble going early than late. Alwasy a tough call for us bucket-types.
Nothing to speak of yesterday. I finished tapping by 1pm, fired up the vacuum pump around 2 to look for leaks. Some taps were running, but nothing on the shady side of the tree for sure. Today it started around 10 am. I ran sap on the ground until 11:30 to flush the lines, then rinsed the tank and closed the valve. It's looking like I'll get about 1/2 gallon sap/tap. Tomorrow should be a solid run... and first boil of the season!Quote:
Originally Posted by twitch
Interested to hear how the 3/16 do.
Buttoned up a few items at the sugarhouse this morning. Checked the 3/16 lines around noon and they were flowing, not hard but sap was moving. We had a issue with the new snow on top of our tanks holding ice in the lines entering them. Once we cleaned the snow and thawed the lines things were going nice.
About 80 taps in Lewiston on 5/16 hooked to a Shurflo produced about 40 gallons as of dark and the pump was still going. We will have out first boil this weekend coming up.
I agree. I'd rather be early than late. I can keep sap cold/frozen if need be in the event a run turns out not enough to boil, but you get sap on the front end of things. I tapped barely a week ago and have 26 gallons in the snowbank. Couple more days like today and it will be boil time. I'm planning on Saturday if all goes as planned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danthemapleman
Really good run yesterday. Cranked through 1000 gallons of sap today and made 24 gallons of syrup. I had sweetened the pans yesterday, but not drawn off. No freeze last night, so not a lot of sap today. Should be just a short boil tomorrow.
I told myself I would replace all the lines before tapping but I couldn't stand it needed to see some sap. I got 225 in on Monday between 10:00 and 5:00. It was running pretty good no freeze Monday night , Tuesday morning sap still running and lines still pulling vacuum and 140 gallons in the tank. Got another 100 in Tuesday and hope to finish line replacement and tapping today. Got a couple vacuum gauges to install to see what they are pulling.
Not much of a run in Peru on gravity. Lines dried up pretty quickly with no freeze and some trees definitely still not running. Got enough to clean the lines out. We'll be all plugged in and collecting for the next run which may not be until next week.
We're all tapped, and the lines are cleaned out, so it's going to be a little while before good sap flow. Looks like next Tuesday is good. We'll see...
Checked it out and even with the nice slush storm, still nothing to speak of. Maybe next week. Ok by me.
I'm surprised you haven't gotten anything. I never would have expected to get anything today as it hasn't dropped down below 36 in a few days but I flipped on the vacuum pump this afternoon and sap was flowing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Revi
134 taps in and only about 10 gallons in my tanks hopefully next week .
I thought my jugs would be empty today, but I ended up with 5+ gallons off 40 taps. Who would have guessed with that wind and cold! If it ran today, it will run tomorrow!Quote:
Originally Posted by West Sumner Sugar
Get ready folks. Things should shake loose around here on Tuesday :cool:
Had good run this past Tuesday. 190 gallons of sap so far and I have about 1/2 of my taps in. Brix is 2-3 % with some natural RO. Look out for Sunday-Tuesday this week
It was below freezing even late in the afternoon yesterday, but temps have been rising since then! I think today is going to be a big day!
I'm 20 miles from you, I think guys on vacuum will get a pretty good charge today and bucket guys some but not a sap tsunami!:D I'm actually thinking this could be one of those rare times it goes through the night and all day tomorrow.:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Revi
I'm headed to check the tanks now. Planning to take Friday off to boil, could have a good charge by then.
Have not boiled yet but the 3/16 is up and going. I keep a pint jar at my collection tank so I can time the flow. At 11 this morning it was running at 34.2 gallons an hour on 460 taps . I believe the best I did on 5/16 was around 25 or so with 400 taps so I'm pretty happy with that. If the long range forecast is good I think we are in for a good season.
All night run confirmed. Everyone should have plenty to boil this weekend.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by sap seeker