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The weather has been spotty here as well. Either too warm or too cold. But I agree on the sun exposure. It does make a difference. I had a fairly good flow 2 days ago, got about 50 Gallons but I have...

I'm not sure why this thread was closed. Did I do that? If so I am sorry. Anyway I thought I'd update. The weather here has been terrible for sugaring. It just doesn't stay cold enough. I'll get a...

I think it's great you can tap Maple trees that far west. You said you have Silver Maples. What kind of yield do you get. I am in Tennessee. We don't have many Sugar Maples here but I do have about...

Well it looks like we will have 8 or 10 days of tapping weather. 20's at night with 40's in the day. It should get the sap flowing really good. 500 gallons may be obtainable now. so 10 gallons of...

But still not great. December was too warm. January It was either to cold or to warm until a few days ago when it finally warmed up to get the sap flowing but it only lasted three days. Then right...

Thanks. aside from the Turkey fryer I do it the same way. Sterilize bottles and lids and pour in syrup while the bottles are hot. But I have checked the temperature before I seal the jar and it is...

I posted this in the Maple syrup thread before I saw this section. Sorry about that. I see there might be some options.

I am trying to figure out how to keep my Syrup at a high temperature when...

Thanks. I see there is a better place to post this so I will repost it there

I am trying to figure out how to keep my Syrup at a high temperature when bottling it. All the info says to bottle it at 180 degrees. I am doing a few gallons at a time. By the time it runs through...

Dave the funny thing is I lived in Michigan for 18 years and watched my neighbors boiling sap and never even considered it. But you can keep the cold. I'll make do without it. But it got cold again....

Just checking in from Tennessee. I am in middle Tennessee, west of Nashville, so we are not known for a lot of Maple Syrup production but we do have Sugar and Black Maple here. Mine are all Black...

I am also in Tennessee. I have Black Maples. Last year was great. I made 6 gallons of very good quality syrup. It is dark syrup. I am wondering if we will have any this year because it is so warm. Do...

Interesting theory John.
And sounds about right.

So it seems we have no control over the finished color of the Syrup.
Can the commercial producers artificially change the color somehow?

Lindsey, I considered the cost vs reward thing and decided if I was going to do this I would make it as easy on myself as possible. I have not sold any of my syrup so I am not seeing any return on my...

I'd add this, If I lived "up north" I would expect to be able to find pre-owned equipment. I move here from Michigan and I knew a farmer who had an evaporator sitting in his woods. It had not been...

I bought my Pan from Smokey Lake. It came with a Dial thermometer and stainless steel draw off ball vale. It was about $450 but I don't recall the exact amount.

I am getting better at this. The...

I too have a small operation and my first attempt last year was with a 5 gallon Aluminum cauldron over an open fire.
I figured out right away that was not going to work this year.
I bought a 2'-0"...

My thoughts exactly Marc. Next year.
Being in Tennessee I think the weather is going to be a big factor.
I do have a few more trees I could tap.
I only tapped the Black Maples this year but I have...

Thanks for the answer and the "Why". That explains it very well.

I made some candy from the medium dark and it turned out very well.
I still like the dark Amber better.
I'm not sure why the...

My first runs I tried filtering through wool and then Cheese Cloth. Neither worked very well and left sugar sand in the syrup. It was still cloudy. I purchased a hobby kit from Sugarbush and it works...

I have read the information on the grading of Maple Syrup but that is not my concern

My question is why is my syrup darker as the season progresses? Is this normal?
It is from the same trees.
...

I am a newbie here. Last year I made a few pints and did not filter it. It had an unpleasant aftertaste. I filtered my syrup this year and it is delicious with no after taste.

Lowes sell a 32 Gallon food grade plastic container. I think it's called "Brute" By Rubbermaid. Look on the bottom it should say FG. I use one to hold sap. I have 5 gallon food grade buckets on the...

Good thread but now I am really confused.
This is really only my first year tapping trees. I did it last year on one tree just to try it but the trees were already budded and breaking bud. The syrup...