Long range weather guess is for a warmup starting Monday . Temperatures look favorable for sap runs in my neck of the woods for at least a week. Going to start drilling holes in trees Monday .
As Jackie Gleason used to say " and away we go !"
Checking into what other Maine sugarmakers are doing
Long range weather guess is for a warmup starting Monday . Temperatures look favorable for sap runs in my neck of the woods for at least a week. Going to start drilling holes in trees Monday .
As Jackie Gleason used to say " and away we go !"
" A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Mark Twain
900 plus taps , 435 vacuum, 565 gravity
2.5 x 10 Thor on Tsunami arch
H2O Concentrater 300
Squeezing Bees
and
Draining Trees
Since 1980
http://www.sparkyshoneyandmaple.com/about.html
Hi Sparky - I'm down here in Berwick on the NH border. I just set up 5/16 lines with 85 taps on vacuum and I'll have 50 buckets. I'm tapping all reds which I've been told do well on vacuum. I've read posts that state that sugar content is usually very low if tapping this early. Has that been your experience?
2015 - 40 buckets w/ drop lines
275 oil tank evaporator
2x4 flat pan
made 5 gallons!
2016 - 90 buckets
same evaporator and pan
hoping to make 12 gallons
2017 - 85 taps on vacuum w/lunchbox
50 buckets
Smoky Lake 2X4 drop flue pan
I am tempted to throw some taps in this week and see what happens. Guy at work told me that he is seeing buckets in North Berwick already. It is just so early!!
I think it is too early. Might get some good runs next week but then several weeks of cold, holes will dry and will hinder best runs later on in March. Just my opinion.
All the big sugarbushes in Somerset county start tapping in at the beginning of January and their season runs a month later than mine , most don't even use check valves. I have been using them , this is supposed to be the benefit of using them . It's a calculated risk.
I've seen red maples that have a sugar content of over 2 % . They do run like crazy on vacuum !
" A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Mark Twain
900 plus taps , 435 vacuum, 565 gravity
2.5 x 10 Thor on Tsunami arch
H2O Concentrater 300
Squeezing Bees
and
Draining Trees
Since 1980
http://www.sparkyshoneyandmaple.com/about.html
Too early here I don't tap in till Feb. 13 then I don't get runs in till the end of Feb.
Brian
Velvet Hollow Sugarworks
Greenwood, Maine
900 taps
CDL 2X6, leader RO
Just started clearing lines and trimming out some brush. Mainlines back up where I have to take them down each summer. Won't start tapping till at least Early Feb and then will be watching the weather.
1700 Taps /1600 on Vac. 3x10 King evaporator
20 head Charolais cattle
8 head Lowline Angus
28 Miniature horses
90 hives honey bees
JD 4430 tractor
Im ramping up installing 350 new taps on 3/16 and 1000 feet of main line. I will probably tap these trees as I cut in the drops as I go. Then replace taps on my other 350 existing taps for a total of 700 on 3/16 this year. Hoping to be ready to go by the end of the month.
2008---35 buckets--3 gal syrup
2015---150 on 3/16 gravity&50 Buckets
2016---350+/- on 3/16
2017---700+ on 3/16
2018---700+ on 3/16 added 500gal milk tank
I ended up running another main line today to pick up an additional 60 or so taps . Of course the projected high temps for Wednesday are already lower than they were a day ago . Gonna wait a couple days and reassess before I start drilling at this point. They're still saying a warm stretch is in the cards .
" A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Mark Twain
900 plus taps , 435 vacuum, 565 gravity
2.5 x 10 Thor on Tsunami arch
H2O Concentrater 300
Squeezing Bees
and
Draining Trees
Since 1980
http://www.sparkyshoneyandmaple.com/about.html
I'm tapping up here, not to get sap, but to get it done. I have 14,000 trees and looking to add on 4,000 more. Doubt we will thaw out anytime soon now.
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