Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[Sugarmaker's dad]

Best day this season. Made 6 barrels which brings the total to 42. The trees are definitely running out of steam tonight.

[GeneralStark]

40F here this morning and another 400+ gal. since 5:30 pm yesterday. I need to run off to work so I shoveled some snow around my storage tanks so todays sap will stay cold. Red maples are still putting out sap and the closest peeper pond is still frozen. Maybe a freeze Wednesday night? Time to really put the new drops and spouts and cv2s to the test.

This is my first year with plenty of wood and enough time to really see how far I can go.

[GiddingsHill]

Lower woods froze here last night (around 550'elevation) and upper woods kept running around 1100'
Forecast has definitely been off for us too. If I freeze up without opening my regulator my pump will cavitate all night, I managed to get myself down to the tank shed around 2am and was glad I did as it was just starting to get loud.
I bought the Airtech 7.5 LR to be big enough for 6k+ but for what we have tapped this year it's project to keep it from cavitating, even with a programable phase drive and regulator, if the woods are tight it will bounce off 29" and make a racket.

[GeneralStark]

I have the same issue with my Airtech. Last season I had to install a T and ball valve in the 1.5" vac line between pump and releaser to give the pump air or it would cavitate and get loud. Mine sounds like it is crackling. I have a hard time running above 27.5" without cavitation, which is where I have been at most of the season. I have not run the pump above 50 hz all season, and turn it down to 42hz when it is frozen. Once I add more mainline and taps it should be less of an issue.

[Geroldn]

I had a decent run Sunday from 181 taps on gravity tubing and thought the season was ending based on the warm forecast for this week. Frost on the car this morning, my neighbor checked at 10:30 - 25g in the tank and sap is flowing. I'm boiling again tonight! 30g canned so far and more to come. May be a frost Wednesday also.

[spud]

I have been getting 9-10,000 gallons everyday. Some of my wood froze last night and some did not. It is going to freeze tomorrow and Wednesday night for sure and that will recharge us. Saturday may be another freezing night. I am about 50% of where I want to be. We will be going well into next week for sure.

Spud

[sjdoyon]

We are finally getting some nice runs. Making over 250 gallons each day. Hopefully will get into May.

[DrTimPerkins]

I have been getting 9-10,000 gallons everyday. Some of my wood froze last night and some did not. It is going to freeze tomorrow and Wednesday night for sure and that will recharge us. Saturday may be another freezing night. I am about 50% of where I want to be. We will be going well into next week for sure.

Glad to hear it's finally running well for you "northern" guys. We haven't frozen up for several days now, but the forecast looks a lot better for Tues and Wed, and perhaps Saturday night as well, than it did yesterday. Let's hope that they get it right this time. If so, we'll cruise right through that 0.5 gal syrup/tap mark....otherwise it'll be close.

Sap is still running fairly well despite the hot weather. Sugar content down to about 2%, but still made 110 gallons of syrup today, for an overall of 0.42 gal syrup/tap mark. Grade is Dark/Robust, but the flavor is still quite good with no hint of any defects as yet. Hoping the rain starts early tonite to cool things down some, although I have to admit it was quite nice walking through the woods today with a t-shirt.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Dr. Tim,

How many taps is Proctor running now??

[PARKER MAPLE]

Started to shut down Sunday, the 200 tap lot on vacuum wasn't doing much of anything. So shut that down. Then last nights temp my sugar dropped to less then 1/2%. So I'm going to shut that down in the next day or so if it dosnt freeze again. I still have 600 going but haven't gave any real big runs yet, they are way up in elevation and still 2-3' of snow up there. They are all ways my late runners. And usually produce my best sugar numbers. Made a little over 200g so far was hoping for 250. Figures crossed but dosnt look likely .
PM