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Thread: A day in March is better than a day in April

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    South Colton, NY
    Posts
    642

    Default A day in March is better than a day in April

    I've kept records on the sap sugar percentage for each run for the past 8 years and have (what I think) is an application that may provide better results going forward based on a few assumptions, but I thought I'd post it here so folks can comment on the validity (or lack thereof) before I do something different next year.

    So I've got 2,700 taps and I assumed a gallon per tap on an average day and used the 8-year average sugar content for that day to arrive at the gallons of syrup produced. Then using the amount of syrup that would have been made with 1.5 percent sap (the overall average) as a base I calculated the value of the difference using bulk pricing and lowered the bulk price by $0.030 per pound for lower grade syrup in April. I then plotted that over an average season (I'll attach that if I figure out how) and it looks to be that for my woods a day in March is about $500 better than a day in April. Thus, a bias for earlier tapping than I historically have would seem to pay off over the longer term.

    So does this make sense, or perhaps I'm making bad assumptions. or maybe just stating the obvious that others have long been doing?

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
    3,100 taps
    60 cfm flood
    HC2
    5 by 14 oil

    Brian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Williston, VT
    Posts
    615

    Default

    When possible, I plan to be tapped and ready to receive and boil sap by the middle of February. This year it paid off with 3 February boils starting on Valentine's Day. Had I waited, then my first boil would have been March 17th! We ended up with a great year which could have been less than mediocre if we hadn't been ready for that mid February thaw.
    Ken
    Ken & Sherry
    Williston, VT
    16x34 Sugarhouse
    1,500 taps on high vacuum, Electric Releaser & CDL Sap Lifter
    Wood-Fired Leader 30"x10' Vortex Arch & Max Raised Flue with Rev Syrup Pan & CDL1200 RO
    https://www.facebook.com/pumpkinhillmaple/

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    Ken, you are quite a bit larger than I but I would like to know when did you start tapping for this year?
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bristol, VT
    Posts
    1,978

    Default

    I think you have already convinced yourself, but in my experience February sap is gold. Catching it requires preparation, but that preparation pays off in March when it really matters, like you said.
    Last edited by GeneralStark; 04-18-2023 at 09:34 PM.
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Williston, VT
    Posts
    615

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pdiamond View Post
    Ken, you are quite a bit larger than I but I would like to know when did you start tapping for this year?
    We timed it perfectly and were tapped in the second week of February, just in time for the pre-Valentines day run. It took about a week to tap.
    Ken
    Ken & Sherry
    Williston, VT
    16x34 Sugarhouse
    1,500 taps on high vacuum, Electric Releaser & CDL Sap Lifter
    Wood-Fired Leader 30"x10' Vortex Arch & Max Raised Flue with Rev Syrup Pan & CDL1200 RO
    https://www.facebook.com/pumpkinhillmaple/

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