Abbott's Family Farm 2016

[wurmdert]

very pleased with this season because I always reinvest my sap money now I can expand even MOOORRREEE

[abbott]

Alright, that's it! Syrup taste is clearly changing, probably buddy flavor but I'm not sure. The sap has been clear and the syrup color was back up almost to Amber at the end, but it was tasting more questionable all the time so I shut off the pump and quit boiling with 300 gallons of sap in the tank.

Total syrup: 435 gallons (up from 333 last year) which is just over a half gallon per tap. Since I figure .4 gallons a tap is average production, the final number is 125% crop, a personal best.

[wurmdert]

well done abbott, congrats. on a new personal best.

[Mitchman]

Yes Way to go Abbott, I'm still boiling for my brother, taste is still very good, so we will try another week. He's got the bug for sure!!!!

[abbott]

Alright, so its definitely the buddyness that got me. Hard to see whats going on in the woods, but I found several of the big stonewall maples up here at the house that have buds that are clearly enlarged (maybe 1.5 times dormant length) and showing a lot of white color at the tips.

Good luck to you guys farther north. Hard to imagine you make it another week Mitchman, but hopefully the sap runs hard for a few more days... the weather should be great! Is your buyer still making grade A Wurmdert? I assume you're still in the game until he quits boiling. I have a feeling you're going to have some really impressive numbers in the end.

[abbott]

Ok, here's a comparison of the last 4 years (about 80 of my taps were not on vacuum before this yr):

yr.... -- taps -- sap... -- syrup(%crop) sap/tap(vacuum only) sap:syrup
2013 -- 805 -- 15355 -- 340(113%) --- 20.5 gal --------------- 45:1
2014 -- 845 -- 12740 -- 290(91%) ---16.3 gal --------------- 44:1
2015 -- 850 -- 13220 -- 333(104%) --- 16.7 gal --------------- 39:1
2016 -- 861 -- 19040 -- 435(126%) --- 22.1 gal --------------- 44:1

It was really nice to use less wood last year... that's what made this year possible for me, since I had a big stockpile. Of course, 2012 was my worst year at 79% crop. Having vacuum really seems to even things out. This year could have been even better, but many of my taps were clearly drying up at the end and slowing way down.

[maineboiler]

Congratulations on a very productive year. I had a good one in Oxford, collected a little under 2,000 gallons of sap and made 40 gallons of syrup, 1/3 of which was Golden Delicate. Made 22 gallons last year with about the same number of taps. I was happy.
Feels good to have everything cleaned and put away for the year. We will see what next season brings

[West Sumner Sugar]

Truly impressive from a single man operation! That is huge dedication. Very nice job for sure!

[wurmdert]

Alright, so its definitely the buddyness that got me. Hard to see whats going on in the woods, but I found several of the big stonewall maples up here at the house that have buds that are clearly enlarged (maybe 1.5 times dormant length) and showing a lot of white color at the tips.

Good luck to you guys farther north. Hard to imagine you make it another week Mitchman, but hopefully the sap runs hard for a few more days... the weather should be great! Is your buyer still making grade A Wurmdert? I assume you're still in the game until he quits boiling. I have a feeling you're going to have some really impressive numbers in the end.

Last Barrel yesterday was extra dark and robust, but yet I will be in the game until the sap wont go through the evap. which is really strange to see. Congrats a great year.