Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[DrTimPerkins]

What I don't know is how this deep snowpack affects how well the trees run. If there isn't much frost in the ground, and we have the right temps, but there's 3' of snow the ground, will the trees run???

You are correct. In the woods, frost is not real common. The leaves insulate the ground pretty well, and then later, the snow provides insulation. There might be a little freezing in the upper inch or two, but not much beyond that unless we have a long cold winter with no snow cover.

As far as snow goes there usually isn't a huge problem UNLESS the snow is packed tightly around the trunk of the tree, which causes it to stay frozen at that level, preventing recharge of moisture in the tree during a freeze cycle. Usually a few warm days causes the snow to melt away from the trunk a little bit, forming a depression (or in Inuit/Eskimo -- a qumaniq), allowing the sap to be pulled upward (during a freeze) so the sap can run when it gets warm again.

[Marc Duclos]

Hear in Deerfield NH the town had to and has winged the snow up on the road side trees four and even six feet deep. Most of these trees had a snow pack of three feet until they got winged. Are these trees shut down to a point.

[DrTimPerkins]

Are these trees shut down to a point.

It'll be late when they run. Packed snow around the trunk will keep them from running for a while until the snow melts and loosens up some.

[PARKER MAPLE]

It'll be late when they run. Packed snow around the trunk will keep them from running for a while until the snow melts and loosens up some.

So what's umv up to for tapping and sugaring this time of year.

[spud]

The wind was bad today in the woods so I never tapped. I hope tomorrow will be a good tapping day. I sure hope I will be done tapping by next weekend. My dream of being a coffee farmer in Kona is sounding more desirable for my wife. She hates winter and hates snow. Talked to a few of my friends from Alaska today and they both said they have no snow on their lawns. It's been in the 40s there.

Spud

[Rand]

The wind was bad today in the woods so I never tapped. I hope tomorrow will be a good tapping day. I sure hope I will be done tapping by next weekend. My dream of being a coffee farmer in Kona is sounding more desirable for my wife. She hates winter and hates snow. Talked to a few of my friends from Alaska today and they both said they have no snow on their lawns. It's been in the 40s there.

Spud

Mid 30s and raining in Anchorage today, Spud. We had 2 weeks of seasonably cold (lows about 0F and highs about 10F). Otherwise the whole winter has been much too warm. Iditarod start was just shifted to Fairbanks. If I liked winter on the coast of Connecticut, I woulda friggin moved there! So almost sugaring temps here, except no maples (yet).

Rand

[northwoods_forestry]

Put in 500' of new mainlines yesterday and built a little pump house atop the 500 gallon collection tank. Still need to bring in the laterals, build the sap ladder and get the sugarhouse in order. Another 10 days of Alaska weather and we may just get it all done!

[DrTimPerkins]

So what's umv up to for tapping and sugaring this time of year.

Last month has been getting lines cleared, new pumps and releasers squared away, and some research studies set up. We plan to start tapping the middle of this week unless the weather is too bad.

[spud]

Was able to get 850 tapped today with my son and a friend. The snow is about three feet deep. If weather permits I would like to get another 500+ done tomorrow.

Spud

[PARKER MAPLE]

Got some of the tanks out today for cleaning, man I hate washing poly tanks. Wicked nice today trigger finger was getting itchy. Will get these tanks washed and set this week. Then set the vac pumps and releasers this weekend, hopefully weather permitting start tapping Sunday