Tapping in Mercer County 2012

[Springfield Acer]

Started tapping Thursday 2/2 and couldn't resist placing 50 5/16 taps into buckets by Sunday 2/5 on all sugar maples leaving close to another 40 to 50 for later if needed. Today was the first full day with all 50 and got 36 gal but only 1.5%. Cooler weather is coming. Will boil Wednesday PM.


Second year fanatic
20 x 40 custom pan with dividers and home made steam hood with preheater coil on outdoor masonry "arch".
McCulloch Eager Beaver leaf blower on idle for over fire air manifolds.
600 gal Zero tank with transfer pump (lots of room to grow)
50 5 gal buckets with 5/16 taps and drops.
Arctic Cat 4 wheeler for sap runs

[Springfield Acer]

We finished off the two day (one night, one day) boil of our collection and finished off 83 gallon of sap to 1-1/2 gal of lightly colored syrup. What a treat here today with 19* and 20 mph winds! Got it down to 4 gallon outside (pan capacity at regular depth) then finished on propane. No sap to mention since Monday and probably none until late next week.

[Gary R]

I like the 10% deal. I'll start ordering today. They say there is no money in maple syrup. But I bet you could be in the black by the time your grandkids retire

[Sugarmaker]

I may need to have Gary start ordering stuff too! Sounds like a good list you have started Springfield Acer. Maybe add a new 1 ton pick up, several stainless tanks, Candy machine, Cream machine, Candy molds, Several new 20V cordless drills for tapping, More beer for the wet bar.
Regards,
Chris

[Gary R]

Randy, you are stepping up! Your own thread also Laura had told me you had tapped, haven't heard much more. Great to hear you have already made syrup. I bet your going to want to move into a building soon. The weather will break soon. Then we will all be playing hooky from work.

[Springfield Acer]

The sap is starting slowly. I got 15 gallon of 2-1/2 % tonight. Hopefully the sugar content will stay up now. Looking forward to warmer temps Thursday and Friday for another boil Saturday.

[Springfield Acer]

Thanks for the additional thoughts Chris. You guys here on Maple Trader are real life savers!

[hepocole]

just starting tapping my trees today...got busy and behind...do you think its too late?

[Springfield Acer]

I've had a steady flow of about 1 gal per tap the last few days on my 50 buckets with tubing. I actually was thinking that yesterday would be a much bigger yield but it was real average. Now I am wondering about the warmth and buds. I'd seen a few comments earlier this week but nothing yesterday or today. As a 2nd year beginner, I'm curious as to what the locals here are seeing and thinking. The reds here are showing some significant bud growth but the sugars seem to be pretty dormant yet. This is one of the reasons that I tapped all sugars this year.
I've got 150 in the tank and will start boiling again this afternoon. Hopefully the colder weather tomorrow night will buy some more sap flow next week(s)?

[Springfield Acer]

A slippery slope in deed!