This is not looking good

[buckeye gold]

Dang this weather pattern. It does not look like any sap weather for the next 10 to 14 days. I have never boiled any later than March 15th and I fear we will have a fast warm up when this passes. I had a season like this in 2014 and only boiled a few boils. Most years I am done by the first few days of March. I am so glad I had early taps out and that I did tap my regular bush when we had that last warm up. At least I made 1/3 of my seasons goal during that period with a few big runs. If I had waited I would be in full panic mode. I beginning to think my approach needs to be a split Maple season. Do a full half of my taps early and half during normal time. The last couple years it seems I make early syrup and late syrup and not much in the middle. Normally I could plan on a full regular season starting around January 25-Feb 1, but as I look over the past few years winter has been showing up in early Feb and my regular start dates are pushed back 7-10 days. The sad part of that is March almost always has a very warm spell in the first 10 days and just mucks up my lines, tanks and sap. Being in southern Ohio seems to bring more challenges.

[VTnewguy]

With the winter weather setting up later, the runs will should be stronger. The sun will be warmer. Might make up for the shorter season.

[buckeye gold]

With the winter weather setting up later, the runs will should be stronger. The sun will be warmer. Might make up for the shorter season.

That's probably true, but that makes a rough season. I'd much rather have a regular steady flow of sap. Also, that is part of my fear, a week of hell then die completely off. I guess I'll know come March 15th. I have 10 years of spreadsheets and this pattern has never turned into a banner year.

[buckeye gold]

I have been blamed for worse things,

[Kh7722]

There is no sense in worrying about it, we cant help the weather one way or another. All it does is create unneeded stress. Make the most of and
Kevin

[johnallin]

Kevin s right. It will all work out, and like Like Fred said in his attempt at Canadian Lingo....I’ve interpreted as needed...

“Come on down to the Federation of Kirtland Hills (my sugar house) and have an ole Silver Spray (beer) , kick back and relax on the chesterfield (couch) by the Bullerjan (wood stove). its going to come fast enough don't rush it eh!!

[buckeye gold]

I think it's about to be a wild and crazy week. It may take a couple days, but I sense an absolute sap tsunami coming. It's forecast to be in the 40s and up to 55 wed. with below freezing nights. I have a 40 gallon size block of ice in my collection tank to keep things cool, not intentionally. First I have to plow a path to the tank as I took the tank cart loose and had to put the plow on the tractor. So Now I have 15-18" of snow to remove first so I can hook back up. Of course I have a doctors appt one day and am scheduled for my covid vaccine Thursday. The boss retired the 1st of January and she says she'll run the evaporator so I don't have to shut down for those things. Probably 10 days of madness and done

[Ocelotsden]

I'm just hobby and only collect 50 -55 gallons of sap and usually do that over one solid week each year and boil it all at once. that way I don't go over 7 or 8 days holding sap, depending on weather anyway. Last year I was boiling and finished up this very weekend, but it's been really cold and there's a foot and a half of snow still on the ground. Looking at the weather, I think I'm going to start tapping today or tomorrow and see how it goes. Even if I don't keep any of the sap from this coming week, it should flow really well the following week.
I'm thinking with all the snow on the ground, I can bury my 5 gallon jugs in it and it should be fine for up to 10-12 days maybe? Any thoughts?

[ecolbeck]

There is no sense in worrying about it, we cant help the weather one way or another. All it does is create unneeded stress. Make the most of and
Kevin

We can’t help the weather, but can we help the climate?

[buckeye gold]

This certainly is an odd year. I wish I'd of put all my taps put earlier. I boiled 16 times between December 16th and January 16th and made almost half my seasons goal. The runs in mid January were really good. I would have still held my main bush off until January, but I wish I had tapped those 100 the first of January. If it warms up, like it's prone to do in March here I'm done with a very short regular season. I have a big order yet to fill. I'm hoping this is the year I boil well into March.