I have 2 leases, one verbal the other written, both are the same terms and I update them each year for price. 2, 3 and 4 yrs ago I paid $.50/tap as well, but last year when I added vacuum I raised the rate to $.75/tap. Both parties are very comfortable with the rates I set. My goal is to make syrup and I need the trees since my land only has about 160 taps so I make sure the land owners are not looking for someone to pay more. My unwritten lease is on the property of a long time friend and I have tapped that for 6 years now. The written lease is another friend and the initial tubing investment was much higher so I wanted the written lease. It is for 5 yrs and automatically renewable for 5 more as long as I have lived up to my part.
In both cases I pay them in syrup first, allowing any jug size they want but figure it at the gallon price, most take qts. After they get as much syrup as they want, I pay the balance by check shortly after the season. Both get plenty of syrup.
To aid in getting a lease I also assist the landowner in getting an Ag Exemption on property taxes. In NYS (maybe others too) this requires a few things, 1. A written lease for at least 5 yrs. 2. Proof that the syrup producer has averaged at least $10,000 in farm income the last 2 years. This proof must come from your income tax returns and this is not profit but income. Detailed applications must be filed and I helped the landowner do this. The one I have an unwritten lease with was already fully ag exempted from the other leases he had. A land owner will find that the Ag Exemption will be far more than the lease payment but both get added to have a happy landowner.
If you do not show maple or any other farming income on your taxes this feature is not possible or if you are too small.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.