Schenectady-Albany-Saratoga Counties

[scott135]

In Rensselaer County just east of Troy. Put 70 taps in on February 22nd. All were flowing as soon as I hammered in the spiles. Collected about 130 gallons the following Friday through Sunday. Finished about 3 gallons.

Since I have collected another 100 gallons. Last night I got about 25 gallons. Been really warm hoping for some cold weather. to hold off the trees budding.

Collected about 550 gallons last year starting about the same time and going for about 4-5 weeks on 60 taps.

[eseerup]

We tapped on Feb. 20th (Monday). About 60 taps collected 160 (4.75 gallons of syrup) for a boil on that Thursday. Nothing flowing really from Friday to Sunday. Sunday to Tuesday collected 120 gallons (3 gallons of syrup). Wanted to get it processed before the "rain". And of course it didn't rain.

We tapped early last year and the trees ended up drying up early, so we waited a little longer this year.

[Albany Tap]

I think we had too many warm days in a row for this last good freeze to pay out with anything worth keeping. I am clearly seeing buds on all the reds. I will do a test boil on the next thaw to see, but my guess is that it's not going to be good at all.

[ADK_XJ]

Came home from travel to full but frozen solid buckets - 6 degrees today and hoping this is the recharge the trees need. In the meantime, since I boil outside im not planning on doing so till the buckets thaw and it's 30+ out.

[Sunnyacres]

I must be the only fool outside boiling tonight. I have a full tank and want it gone for this coming week.going to break everything down tomorrow and clean. The next two weeks weather looks perfect.

[stoweski]

I boiled for 8 hours today to get rid of the remaining sap I collected this past week. Unfortunately I was fighting a frozen feed line all day with the cold and the wind. Kept a reserve in buckets to use when it froze. I finally gave up and shut everything down with 30 gallons left. I was just afraid of burning my pan as I was getting tired.

Needless to say I'll be moving my head tank indoors next season.

Here's hoping the season lasts at least another two weeks... or more!

[Sunnyacres]

I feel better knowing I'm not the only one boiling tonight. I've been at it since 1:00 with the end in sight. The tank valve keeps freezing and I'm down to thirty in the head tank. When that's gone I'm done. At least I will have some ice in the tank to keep the sap cool this week.

[Sunnyacres]

Cant wait to put sides on sugar house it is freezing out. Still have a ton of sap to boil but the valve on tank keeps freezing up. Is any one else still boiling this weekend.

[ADK_XJ]

This pretty much sums up my season so far - yeah, that's sap:

IMG_20170312_142047.jpg

[stoweski]

You making ice sculptures up there, ADK? Put a handle on that thing and you got yourself one heck of a beer mug!