Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[northwoods_forestry]

Had a chance to catch up on sleep last night. Gravity and buckets stopped running yesterday and had just 75 gallons from the sap puller. Temps this morning are disappointing. Hoping for a good hard freeze, but we only dropped to 28 last night. We'll see if that's enough! Pretty close to 100% and well ahead of last year, but this might be it. No other significant freeze showing in the extended forecast.

[sapmaple]

We had to go to a function on Friday night so held sap over til Sat was worried because it was so warm. Had 13,600 gallons of sap squeezed it to 13% and boiled it in 7.5 hrs and made 416 gallons of some of the most awesome Amber rich ( my biggest day yet) down to 28 degrees last night headed to forty or so today and with the WEST wind blowing the sap already rolling real good, hope everyone is having a great day

[GeneralStark]

Sap is running the hardest I have seen it yet this season. Already over 1/2 gpt in about 4 hours. Will likely have to boil tonight to make room for tomorrow as I have to go to my other job all day. The big runs are finally here I think and this week is when we will likely make most of our crop.

[wiam]

Thank you General. Very windy here. Did not think it was running. Been working in sugarhouse. Read your post and asked the boy to go check. Over 400 in tank. Almost 1/2 per tap and single releaser dumping 2.5 minutes.

[spud]

Saps still running a bit and I might get 800 gallons by the time it stops tonight. Going to be 18 tonight so maybe tomorrow will be a good day. Happy Easter everyone. ( Christ died for our sins ).

Spud

[DoubleBrookMaple]

Never broke the freezing level here today, after surpassing my last years syrup output yesterday, and up to 25 gallons. Next two days look different, and I will be very busy for a few days thereafter. I will be going strong later than most I think again this year, and won't give up as early as last. I quit a little early before the sap turned.

[Tucker08]

Had a great Thursday and Friday last week. On Friday a buddy and I tag teamed it and got 23 gallons made. That is almost 1/2 of my best previous year. I am at the 69 gallons mark on the season. Went out today after the Easter festivities and have 350 more gallons of sap which surprised me because it was pretty cold and quite windy. Looking forward to boiling again tomorrow. I am loving the Deer Run RO. Glad I got the expandable unit because next year I will certainly make it a 250gph. I have a pretty efficient rig with my preheater, blower, and hood, but never did I dream of doing this much on my 2x6. Noticed the sap from today's run started to get faintly cloudy, but there is still a lot of time yet.

Good luck everyone. Happy Easter.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

130 gal total now another 13 tonight still more sap. sending out pump in am hope to get back end of week

[GeneralStark]

Thank you General. Very windy here. Did not think it was running. Been working in sugarhouse. Read your post and asked the boy to go check. Over 400 in tank. Almost 1/2 per tap and single releaser dumping 2.5 minutes.

No prob William. It ran hard here right until it froze up at about 8pm. Over 1 gpt in about 10 hours at about 2.2%. Ran it through the ro and boiled to make room for tomorrow. Made about 15 gal. Amber Rich so up to 125. Went darker after 30+ gal. of GD, maybe because the pans need cleaning. The last 5 gallons went lighter though. Will probably boil once more then clean the pans.

[ryebrye]

No prob William. It ran hard here right until it froze up at about 8pm. Over 1 gpt in about 10 hours at about 2.2%. Ran it through the ro and boiled to make room for tomorrow. Made about 15 gal. Amber Rich so up to 125. Went darker after 30+ gal. of GD, maybe because the pans need cleaning. The last 5 gallons went lighter though. Will probably boil once more then clean the pans.

I'm up in Hinesburg - similar story. Ran hard all day long until it froze - I got 135 gallons from 108 taps. Sugar content is still high (2.7% here). This is the single day I've had this season.

The extended forecast looks like freezes might stop happening after wednesday or thursday - anyone in Chittenden County have any guesses as to when the trees will break buds? I wonder what the chances of it getting back to freezing / thawing before the buds break are.