Spring Harvest 2014

[Amber Gold]

I was disappointed in yesterday's run as well. We got a 500 gal truckload out of the woods, but was hoping for more than that. Sugar's testing 1.7%. With the load that Dill dropped off, we made around 14 gal of syrup last night. Anybody else making dark syrup this year? I've been just over the line and into a Grade B syrup all season.

Not too enthusiastic about the 10-day forecast...hope it warms up.

[Dill]

I'm more disappointed in the evening run last night. Not sure why but the moisture trap was full again this morning and no vac. Must be how quick its freezing up at night or something. Didn't have this issue last year, once I dumped the hobby releaser for a full size version.

[red maples]

My sugar was actually up to about 2.25% (that's what was in the tank anyway combination of about 85% vac and 15% buckets). That would bring the sugar up but, yesterday I had about 2% coming in in the afternoon. and was much slower but and dropped to approx. 1.75ish by the late evening.

I will know more about grades once I can make more syrup only 5 gallons so far and it looked like it lightened up a little bit closer to DA line but still GB I am thinking there is still a little of the 14 day layover sap in the Evap that need to get pushed through. Sap is still coming nice and clean and is finally crystal clear so I hope it lightens up a bit more.

One good note I have a friend that watches the weather more than we do (he is a power commodities Trader/ orderer what ever you wanna call it works for power companies and monitors usage of electricity, Propane, Coal, natural gas etc. and that is directly effected by the weather) anyway he says that they way the computer models are setting up for April there should be a slow warm up which you can see in the 10 day but good sap weather straight through mid April so far. We'll see....

[Russell Lampron]

Nothing but medium amber here. I really like my bubble master. The sweet was frozen in my evaporator since Feb 23rd and some of the sap sat in the woods tank that long too. We made 9 gallons last night which will help with the open house weekend a little more than a week away. I'm not impressed with the 10 day forecast either but things can change.

[Amber Gold]

Collected 330 gal yesterday, and with the 165 gal that got delivered, made about 10 gal last night. Shutting down as the evap. was leveling out. Wish we could get a good run and be able to boil for a while.

Dill, I don't think you lost any sap. The only time I've had issues with the releaser hanging up and filling the moisture trap is first thing in the morning if I didn't get there in time to clean the ice out of the releaser and manifold, or on those real marginal days where it really doesn't want to run and the manifold's icing up and eventually hangs up.

[Amber Gold]

Running short on time with little opportunity make syrup, so last night, we took some of this year's Grade B syrup and made a batch of cream with it. It came out very good. darker than I'd like, but since the B didn't taste like a B, it wasn't too strong. Will be making more this weekend. I'm wondering how the candy will come out making this syrup.

Hoping for a run tomorrow. It'll be around 30F tonight, so it should. Then cold again for a few days.

[red maples]

I am having second thoughts on making cream for maple weekend. just might do all the stuff that doesn't require as much syrup, like nuts and mustard. but I will still do candy.

[Russell Lampron]

Running short on time with little opportunity make syrup, so last night, we took some of this year's Grade B syrup and made a batch of cream with it. It came out very good. darker than I'd like, but since the B didn't taste like a B, it wasn't too strong. Will be making more this weekend. I'm wondering how the candy will come out making this syrup.

Hoping for a run tomorrow. It'll be around 30F tonight, so it should. Then cold again for a few days.

I've made cream with dark syrup before and I felt that it tasted better than cream made with light syrup. The candy should be good too, just dark colored.

Looks like we may get a little run tomorrow but usually you need 3 good days in a row to get a good run.

You, Kieth and Brad all bought new RO's this year. It's your fault the sap ain't running. The same thing happened when I bought my RO.

[Russell Lampron]

I am having second thoughts on making cream for maple weekend. just might do all the stuff that doesn't require as much syrup, like nuts and mustard. but I will still do candy.

I'm doing cream and nuts. If I run out of syrup I'll take orders. The value added products are where the money is!

[SSFLLC]

I believe the problem here is not me Brad and Josh. It would be Red Roof Maples for not getting one 9RO0 big enough so the sap goddess is holding out on all of us