Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[DrTimPerkins]

It was a very good year and I finished at .48 GPT.

So close Spud....so close.

[spud]

And yet so far away. It was a great year.

Spud

[Meuphrat]

Are people seeing an extra ordinary amount of flower buds this year?
I'm curious what causes a buds to go flower or leaf? I've heard that after a big seed year comes a low sugar content spring. Anyone have any insights?
Wondering if the drought last year could be a cause?
I poked around for a thread that answers these questions and couldn't find one. If the info is out there feel free to just direct me.
Mike
The Bunker Farm
Dummerston, VT

[GeneralStark]

Do you mean on sugar maples?

[Meuphrat]

Do you mean on sugar maples?

Oh Ya. I should have specified.

[DrTimPerkins]

I've heard that after a big seed year comes a low sugar content spring. Anyone have any insights?

http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/Does%20Mast...entrations.pdf

We are currently conducting a study on this (seeding) and other biological and environmental influences on sap sugar content and sap yield. I've spoken about it once (North American meeting last fall in Burlington) and will be again at the Leader Evaporator Co. Open House this Friday/Saturday. It'll probably end up as a paper in the Maple Digest sometime in the next year or two.

[Meuphrat]

http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/Does%20Mast...entrations.pdf

We are currently conducting a study on this (seeding) and other biological and environmental influences on sap sugar content and sap yield. I've spoken about it once (North American meeting last fall in Burlington) and will be again at the Leader Evaporator Co. Open House this Friday/Saturday. It'll probably end up as a paper in the Maple Digest sometime in the next year or two.

Awesome!
Thanks Dr. Tim!
Can't wait to see the study.
Seems like one of the main points of the article you linked was the need for producers to keep good records. Has anyone come up with a standardized way of sugar season record collection?
I would be interested in seeing a list of all the useful variables that producers could keep track of day to day during sugar season as well as off season variables.
Again thanks for the info.
Mike

[woodfordmark]

okay, I screwed up!!!....usually after the season I clean my plastic holding tanks but this season I dropped the ball and now they are a mess....what's the best way to clean them?
any idea's or suggestions???

[wiam]

okay, I screwed up!!!....usually after the season I clean my plastic holding tanks but this season I dropped the ball and now they are a mess....what's the best way to clean them?
any idea's or suggestions???

Really good pressure washer.

[woodfordmark]

did the pressure washer today, got a lot of it but not all of it...didn't know if soaking it with baking soda would help....thoughts?