Massachusetts maple producers say 2016 was a record year | masslive.com - www.masslive.com
http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/06/massachusetts_maple_producers_2015-16_wa.html
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Type: Posts; User: Maplesedge
Massachusetts maple producers say 2016 was a record year | masslive.com - www.masslive.com
http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/06/massachusetts_maple_producers_2015-16_wa.html
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Boiling water amongst the trees
Is much more fun when you don't freeze
Big difference between a bud emerging and a bud opening. If your sap is clear and clean, you're good to go, boil away. What are you boiling on?
BFD5, I've had really big sugars give 5-6 gal per tap, per day, on the peak flow days, but only a gal or two per day most of the time.
Into the 50's early next week
OTOH, the 15 day forecast is perfect sap weather too. Very weird. Glad I'm not tapping this year.
The weather gets weirder every year, but I wouldn't tap yet. The temps may get into the 40s but the trees take a while to thaw out. Not worth tapping now, unless you're really small scale and want to...
Update: More extensive coverage of survey traps all around me this year. No news on spread as yet.
Finished the last batch, nice and dark. Almost a gallon from about 25 gallons of sap.
Cool. Glad you had a good season too. Also good to know that 4% is in the right range for big old sugars.
Yup, it's mostly each individual tree. I just checked the open tap holes as I dropped off some syrup for the tree's owner, and they're all still draining, sweet and clear, but it's time to stop. Most...
Because maple is sucrose and can take the heat, birch is fructose, and cannot. Like 100/1 ratio, IIRR. Made some once, nice caramel flavor.
11685
Just enough snow left to turn the fire off.
11686
Out of the pan and into the pressure cooker.
Day 34, the end. Took 5 gallons of sap since Thursday, taps still dripping and clear, buds still small and tight, but pulled them anyway as I'm doing my last boil right now and that'll do it.
Hey...
Day 32. Cold enough last night, blowing snow this morning. Not much warmer today yet picked up a full bag and taps are dripping steady. Just the slightest hint of cloudiness. Got enough to make 2-3...
Congrats. Good season.
I can introduce you to the Colbys, I won't be tapping their trees anymore, never did more than 6-8 of them and they've got a lot more. I only reserve one tap in the king...
Day 31. Cold enough last night, but cold all day too, low 30's. picked up more than yesterday, but still nothing really at just over a quart of sap from 6 holes. I'll leave the taps in until Friday...
Day 30. Mid 40s and rainy. Not cold enough last night apparently, only picked up a pint between all six taps. Bugs were out yesterday but none today in the rain. Supposed to be a bit colder the next...
Day 29. Cold enough last night I guess, picked up 8 gallons today. Sap still looking good. Buds still small and tight. Finished the second batch, made 7 quarts, so just over 3.5 gallons so far....
Day 28. After two days, picked up 7 gallons. Trees still dripping and just enough snow left around the yard to keep sap cold with, so looks like I'll get in one more boil.
Second boil. Very windy and a little sleet but some sun too so a good enough day. Trying to keep the leaves from blowing in.
This could be the last boil. Not sure how much sap I'll get next...
Day 26. Only one bag today, not even full, maybe four gallons. Mid forties overnight not helping. Got enough for a very windy Saturday boil. Going to leave the taps in and see what happens next week....
Day 25. Another two full bags. Steady dripping with air at 58 degrees and windy and ground still frozen. Not a bad combination. Will get as much sap this week as in the previous three. Hope the rain...
Day 24, yesterday. Another 2 bags, 10 gallons, still good, but that king tree has given over 5 gallons per hole on a flood day, so haven't hit that yet. But it's warming up and rain coming, so the...
Cool. Everybody likes sugar. Soon, many more insects will be out and interested in your sap. Part of the reason I went with bags and tubing.