Low Sugar content ??

The first couple of runs I had this year the sugar content was next to nothing! I sweeten pans every year like everyone else, but this year I put over 300 gallons through my 2x6 before I was close to a draw off. The sugar content was about 1.5-1.7% I figured the pans were sweet by then. So on the next run I put another 200 gallons through with about the same results, Nada. During the second run I checked sugar content and it was less than 1 %. I think some water must have gotten in although I have lids on all my tanks. So what's up??? Yesterday the contyent went to 2% or so! What gives. I always start the season out with high content. Anyone else running into low sugar early? Help. I can't afford the wood to boil water!

Sweber - The first run has been weird. I went through some sap that seemed like water, too the point where I checked the underside of the syrup pan for a leak! Sugar seems to be a little low and color a little dark. The the sugar content yesterday rose 2/10ths. this weekend should be a flood. My lines unthawed at at 3:30 this afternoon and let loose. I used to live in Keene, where in Cheshire are you tapping? Bruce

We are in Harrisville, just outside Keene. Our lines are pretty solid right now too, but we are expecting 50's this weekend. I'm afraid of how much sap I will have after Saturday. I hope the sugar content goes up or I'm dumping any 1.5% sap!

My No 2 son, and back up evaporator operator, just married a gal from Harrisville and the poor souls are now living on St Kitts and I'm covering the 2nd shift! Bruce

I never have checked sugar content, but I ran 400 gal through my 3x10 and never took off.

What's left in the pan though is pretty close though.

I don't have any tools to check sugar content, but I have tasted what little sap I get and it doesn't appear to be very sweet..

Some trees are producing a dark brown sap, which is strange to me since i have never seen this before. I am sure it isn't rust, since my buckets are white plastic.

I dump that brown stuff. The taps are the older cast alloy of something, but not steel or galvi steel coated.. I have taps like that, but these are not in the trees running brown fluid.

The first 21 buckets produced ice so far to maybe 4 gallons all added up, but I haven't collected anything yet.

I am hoping today the run starts to flow, and will hard for the next 4 days.

Yesterday I hung as many more buckets as i could get, which totals 31 buckets now. I have 4 more taps.. I guess i will try to hunt up 4 more buckets.

the dark brown sap could be the result of boring your taphole in a dead section of the tree.

When you are drilling the holes, the shaving should be white (not brown).

I think the recession has hit the trees as well

I didn't see any brown shavings.. As of today the sap is clear as well. I don't know what happened.. I gathered just around 10 gallons today if you count ice cakes. The dribble seems to be faster finally.

After 40 years of sugaring, it's still frustrating to see the temp hit 40, but still not thaw the trees out enough to run much.

Oh well. Tomorrow's supposed to hit 50, so that ought to finally get them going.