*ahem* everyone before you get too excited...this is from the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers website...Remember not to drill tap holes or install spiles while tree trunks are frozen below -5 ⁰C. Wait until thawing conditions allow safe tapping. (bold and italics mine). And...brb...Many producers discard the first significant sap run because of potential off-flavours in syrup that frequently occurs in the first sap. The discarded sap will also serve to effectively rinse vacuum tubing before larger volumes of sap begins to flow.
This same notice also strongly suggests tapping conservatively this year as the summer was quite dry.
I'm still waiting at least another week before tapping.
Last edited by Galena; 02-16-2017 at 06:38 PM.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup
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