Western Wisconsin

[markcasper]

Buddy syrup showed up at my place last night and this morning! Its just getting started, but its definately there. The sap I brought in a few hours ago was some of the cleanest sap since the start. Have to see how todays sap turns out Wondering whether to pull the reds tomorrow or just throw the towel in all together? The buddy was not there on Wednesday when I last cooked.

[mainstreet]

When the trees start budding can you taste the difference in the sap? Since I only have 20 tapped I can taste the sap of each. I pulled some of the reds with "antennas" already but left a couple in to see if there is a difference in the sap taste. The sugars still have a ways to go, hoping they make it through this warm stretch to next weekend when the temps look good again.

[markcasper]

When the trees start budding can you taste the difference in the sap? Since I only have 20 tapped I can taste the sap of each. I pulled some of the reds with "antennas" already but left a couple in to see if there is a difference in the sap taste. The sugars still have a ways to go, hoping they make it through this warm stretch to next weekend when the temps look good again.

I cannot detect it in the sap, but definately can when its boiling. The syrup I cooked in the overnight lightened way up. It has a faint off taste, but not bad at all. It does have a strange smell to the steam, but seems more metabolic than buddy the way it looks now. So I'm going to keep going, I have a tank I have to go and pump now and will cook tomorrow again.

[mainstreet]

Thanks for your response Mark. Appreciate the wisdom!

[markcasper]

Made 55 gallons of commercial last night. It was pretty good tasting so technically maybe it is "B". Its got that end of season composition though. We pulled most all of the soft maples a few days ago in an effort to stave off the bud. Going to pull the few in the other woods now. Right at about 2/3 gallon syrup per tap. If we get decent flows this weekend it will set a record for per tap anyways. The sugar has dropped to 1.5% in so the writing is on the wall for this season. Heard the frogs at the creek this past Monday. The syrup boiled really fine and filtered about 75% of normal so not too bad there either. The sugar sand is horrible in the pans this year it seems.

[mainstreet]

Disappointing day. Was hoping for some good runs, but oh well. Boiled what I had and will finish everything tomorrow. Pulled all but a few in case I boiled too deep, which was the plan with my new setup. Hope you vacuum guys did better.

[Cody]

Sap still running about .5 to .75 gallon per tap,been a crazy year one for the books.Sap got real cloudy for a couple days but cleared up now,never really got warm enough to run much yesterday see what today will bring.

[markcasper]

so your still going? Some have quit and some are still going. Some guys have quit collecting parts their woods while keeping other parts going. Really a strange year! I'll pickup through tomorrow and then probably hang it up.

[motowbrowne]

I'm down to about 25 buckets still running plus my one 3/16 line with 20 taps. Still a little trickling in from my 80 on Shurflo vacuum, but those taps spent 3 weeks with no vacuum and they're old spouts, so they're mostly done.

I'm with you Mark, probably one more collection today and call it quits. Unless of course Cody and Todd need some sap cooked.

[dschultz]

Hard maples still going strong here 2 plus gallons per tap a day.If they want to keep giving I'll keep taking till there done.