North East Ohio 2021

[heus]

As far as production goes, this was my worst year in the 12 years that I have done this. Mostly weather related, but also because of a defective new ro membrane (I was losing 1% through my permeate for awhile before I caught it). It was a successful season, though, because I was able to continue working with my dad in the sugarhouse.

[Sugarmaker]

Report from next door (PA) We finished last night with wings and Maple sauces! Sap sugar level dropped to 1.5% yesterday, On 700 taps (combined) we made 156 gallons of syrup. I was happy! Looking forward to next season!
Regards,
Chris

[Hunt4sap]

For the sake of 3 or 4 bottles, I don’t think you’ve got anything to lose by boiling it down.
You’ll know pretty quickly if it’s bad, but it’s not been all that warm - over here anyway- to warrant dumping it. Now, come mid-week that may be a different story....

Ok I put it in freezer along with last few gallons trees pushed out that was clear that I'll finish up this week on the stove...
Made enough for family and friends.
Thanks fellas for your info on everything!

[johnallin]

Finished up last night by boiling off what came in yesterday and Sunday.
Ended up with about 1/2 of lasts year's total, but only had 2 weeks to do it in.

[miboss]

Report from next door (PA) We finished last night with wings and Maple sauces! Sap sugar level dropped to 1.5% yesterday, On 700 taps (combined) we made 156 gallons of syrup. I was happy! Looking forward to next season!
Regards,
Chris

It's interesting comparing your season to mine. You have more taps than me by about 180, yet I almost made as much (minus 6 gal). In fact, the best sugar % I ever see is 1.5%, and most of the season it's a hair above 1%, where yours dropped to 1.5% at the end. I'm guessing you must be on buckets with no vacuum? If so, that's a bigger difference the vacuum makes than what I thought...

[DrTimPerkins]

If so, that's a bigger difference the vacuum makes than what I thought...

The difference is not likely to be due to vacuum. https://mapleresearch.org/pub/m1007s...onvacuumlevel/

[miboss]

The difference is not likely to be due to vacuum. https://mapleresearch.org/pub/m1007s...onvacuumlevel/

Thanks Dr. Tim, that's what I thought.

[woodburner]

All cleaned up over here. Finished with less than half of last years total. Looking back on my records we have had worse years, gal per tap in 2000 our worst, 65gal on 700 half buckets. Found it interesting that 1999 was our best year, 165 gal on 700. With Mother Nature you never know. Very dry here for March, when I pulled taps most were dry having only been in 3 1/2 weeks.

[johnallin]

The difference is not likely to be due to vacuum. https://mapleresearch.org/pub/m1007s...onvacuumlevel/

The study indicates vacuum... what am I missing here?

[DrTimPerkins]

The study indicates vacuum... what am I missing here?

The poster of that comment suggested that some of the difference in sap sugar content might be (partially or fully) due to vacuum. The study I cited demonstrates that vacuum does not appreciably alter sap sugar content.