I am also in WNY- I think it's done but looking ahead the temps are supposed to go down on 4/2 leading me to think a run on 4/3. Is it worth holding out for?
Trees def have slowed down
I am also in WNY- I think it's done but looking ahead the temps are supposed to go down on 4/2 leading me to think a run on 4/3. Is it worth holding out for?
Trees def have slowed down
Completely up to you when to stop, but note that the first buds to appear on maples are typically flower buds. These are not associated with buddy off-flavor. Leaf buds, which come slightly later, are.
Personally I think people shouldn't bother looking at buds. It often freaks people out unnecessarily. What is important is the taste, which is why it is a good idea to do a test boil as you mentioned. That's really the optimal way to know whether the sap has gone buddy.
The other off-flavor that crops up this time of year is sour-sap. Sap sits around in the tubing system too long and gets heavily fermented. Makes for some poor tasting "fizzy" taste/feel on the tongue.
And finally...we start to get the dreaded "ropey" sap/syrup around this time...especially when we get several warm, low-flow days in a row.
Best of luck in avoiding all of those as the season winds down (hopefully slowly and gracefully) over the next several weeks.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Thanks for the answer to the flowering maple question. I really wondered about their effect on the quality of the syrup. Unfortunately, last week's warm temps really messed up my lines, and the runs this week did not clear all the gook out. Then today the procom pump on my RO quit after 10 minutes. Sap was nearly 1%, so I'm not running it without RO. So, 400 gals of cloudy, somewhat funky sap, down the drain. That is, after I flood the pan for a several month long soak.
Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014
175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph
We're done here in Bennington (Wyoming County). Made about 1/3 less syrup than normal for the year. My uneducated guess is that the milder than normal winter had a negative impact on sap flow.
Well I finished bottling the last of my syrup from the last batch I did 3 weeks ago. Total for the year about 4gal. Which is about half what I normally do but I was a bit tired out anyways, glad to wind down. Hope you all get enough.
2019- RO
2018- 25 taps made 8 gal syrup.
2017- 25 taps -built a 2x3 flat pan, and a fuel tank arch for it. 335 gal 7.34gal syrup.
2016- 15 taps, 4.3gal syrup boiling on cinderblock arch 3 roasting pans, 1 redneck trash can with a pot, and a turkey fryer.
2015- 4 taps 44 gals of sap made 2.25 gal of lite syrup.
I am officially done. Glad I added 20 more taps this year. Ended up with a bit over 7 gallons. Not a great year for sure but one to remember. Getting our there in the woods drilling the holes hanging the buckets collecting sap,sitting at the evap boiling the day away ... definitely a great escape from all the craziness in this world right now!! Wishing you all the best until next season take care ..
2012.-2016 4-8 taps propane burner. Steam pan. 2- 3 quarts per year
2017 12 taps. 50 gallon drum arch steam pan and a warmer. 1.5 gallons
2018. 50 taps Homemade arch 300 gallon oil drum 3 steam pans 8.5 gallons
2019. 50 taps. 8 gallons made
2020. 70 taps. New smoky lake 2x4 pan modified homemade arch
Webster New York
I see some good trees are budding already. Am I nuts?
Trees always have buds. Highly doubtful they are swelling yet.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Thank you for the response.
I took these pictures today.
I am by no means as advanced as others here, but really enjoy this with my grandchildren.
Would love to retire and spend my days with them and pastimes like these.
IMG_0923.jpg
Last edited by Masnart; 01-15-2021 at 07:46 PM.
From a small guy. Today in the mail I received catalogs from Smoky Lake and Roth Sugar Bush. You would think they where porn magazines as my wife tried to hide them. She is probably correct, as I went from a Smoky Lake 2x3 pan to a 2x4 pan this year. Also ordered the bandolier from them. Most people would think this is crazy, but my 12 year old daughter was making shooting sounds with the drill and cant wait to help me tap trees. Best $62 I have ever spent.
2020 2'x4' Smoky Lake Gas-Fired Finisher (use as my evaporator). 6 gallons of regular syrup, 3 gallons of Bourbon syrup
2019 Smoky Lake 2'x3' divided pan same homemade arch-7 gallons of syrup
2018 (2) metal chaffing pans over a gas burner and home made gas fired arch made of cinder blocks-4 gallons syrup
2017 (2) metal chaffing pans over a gas burner-2 gallons of syrup