Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[GeneralStark]

Vac pump has been on since 7am and it has been running steadily. Have pulled in about 200 gal. So far. Brix is up to 2.5 from 1.5 during last run. Pretty happy about that. Boiled on Thursday and sweetened pans and made about 1 gal.

Almost done tapping. Hooked up a bunch more today and no leaking cvs yet.

Preheater is leaking so taking it off to be welded on Monday. Seems like it could run the next few days. I hope so as I need to make some syrup. People are placing orders and I need products for open house weekend. I hope things are smooth for everyone else.

[northwoods_forestry]

Barely touched 32 here today and everything stayed frozen. If it gets a bit warmer tomorrow I could at least switch on the vacuum.

[spud]

I got 2500 gallons today. Sap started running at about !:00pm and stopped about 10:00pm. I was not expecting any sap today. Monday looks like we may get a bigger run. Vacuum pumps have been on for day's and will stay on till April 20th or so.

Spud

[sapmaple]

Your right on that sapmaple. The only problem is I would have no money in the bank if I set up to boil.

Spud

You got that right my friend I can attest to that, But I wouldn't have it any other way I just love the challenge of it all!
Worked til 9:30pm last night hooking my new main lines into the wet -dry lines my son was tapping them and when we turn on the valve they were ripping pretty good nice flow well into the night going up to check tanks now (don't have any of the fancy tap track or tank monitor yet got to wait til there is some money in the bank

[GeneralStark]

Sap ran overnight as we didn't go below freezing until about 11 am this morning. Now, everything is froze up tight. I did pull in about 600 gallons from approx. 675 taps in the last 24 hours. Going to see what I get tomorrow and then will likely ro and boil on Tuesday.

[spud]

Hey General it sounds like your runs are almost a gallon per tap. I have only been getting about a third of a gallon. Yesterday my sugar started to go up to 1.6-1.7% so thats good. To cold today for any sap to run but tomorrow it is going to be 40 and sun so I might get a little.

SapMaple- I do miss boiling and the whole sugar house thing. We thought about setting up our sugar house to boil a few years ago but then the 60 acres that borders us came up for sale. We decided to buy that so we could tap the 3000 trees on it. It also has some real nice home sites on it for the kids someday. Now we are in the process of planting an apple orchard for the future. I know there is an orchard in your town (do you know them). Someday if one or more of the kids want to really commit to helping with the sugaring we may set up to boil. As of right now none of the kids are interested in sugaring at all. The person I sell my sap to is very nice and treats me well. I don't see me walking away from a good deal anytime soon.

Spud

[adironmaple]

Spud , if we could get what you are being paid we would have never
r built a new setup this year. We built to handle expansion and at last count with all new equipment we are around $10 per tap at e
xpanded tap count.. Not to mention the time and expense to process and boil. You can utilize your time to dial in your leak checking for max sap.
You must be selling to M St P ? Is that a delivered price or does he pick
it up? Reason I ask is we will be buying 5K taps next year and want to be fair on compensation. Its got to be good for both parties to continue long term.

[spud]

Spud , if we could get what you are being paid we would have never
r built a new setup this year. We built to handle expansion and at last count with all new equipment we are around $10 per tap at e
xpanded tap count.. Not to mention the time and expense to process and boil. You can utilize your time to dial in your leak checking for max sap.
You must be selling to M St P ? Is that a delivered price or does he pick
it up? Reason I ask is we will be buying 5K taps next year and want to be fair on compensation. Its got to be good for both parties to continue long term.

I sell my sap to a large producer in Bakersfield. They come and pick up all my sap. I have had three other large operations call and ask to buy my sap (one will pay 70%) but I like the people I am selling to and have no desire to change. I enjoy spending my day in the woods looking for leaks and just walking with the dog. If I boiled then that would take time away from the woods and my production would most likely be affected. I look at going into the woods as my Therapy.

Spud

[n8hutch]

I hear you loud & clear spud, as I was tapping today & going up to my private area every once in awhile when I stepped in a soft drift, A little light snow occasionally I really couldn't have been happier or more clear headed. Most people probably think that's Nutts

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

made another 7 gal, collected 310 of 2.3%