Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[TapTapTap]

Cool! Let us know when you're flowing! Trying to decide when to tap for buckets over in Essex Junction. I figure if someone from Williston says sap is flowing, it is definitely time!
My plan was to aim for Feb 20 and then go plus or minus a week or two according to weather. Right now I'm thinking it will be minus.

It wasn't flowing when I walked the woods earlier. But the sap was built up at the tap like it was ready. My woods ranges from about El 830 to 1100 and we're on a westerly slope.

Ken

[levic900rr]

Cool! Let us know when you're flowing! Trying to decide when to tap for buckets over in Essex Junction. I figure if someone from Williston says sap is flowing, it is definitely time!
My plan was to aim for Feb 20 and then go plus or minus a week or two according to weather. Right now I'm thinking it will be minus.

Im in the same boat here in Colchester, I'm considering hanging buckets this weekend (2/11) which would be pretty early for me but I don't want to miss that pretty light stuff

[TapTapTap]

Thursday night update:

Vacuum is very strong through our our sugarbush
All systems seem to performing well. Very little sap coming in, probably the trees are still pretty frozen. But we're very excited that our system is very dialed in and ready.

For my bucket friends, I think you should be patient and give it another considation later in February. You need to be running when the sap is flowing hard, and at it's sweetest.

Ken

[tapdrinker]

I knew it was running because the birds had done the testing for me. The tree was soaked from multiple bird taps.

[levic900rr]

Im going to wait a few more weeks before hanging buckets, but I'm worried that this season is going to be weird. The temp fluctuations are crazy.

[blissville maples]

Started tapping Monday, 4700 taps set, first collection Friday of 4500 gals. Not complaining but where did all the squirrels go this year? 4700 taps probably six squirrel chews, made getting the vacuum up to 27 1/2 in pretty easy this year!

We're set up for a really good season with this spring preview we're having as long as the first and second week of March isnt froze up it should be a good crop year

[blissville maples]

It's normal, we all know what march beings, anyone on gravity should wait until March otherwise you'll be disappointed.

[VTfarmboy]

Yesterdays haul was .50gpt testing 2.25%...sweetened the pans and pulled some real nice fancy...forecast looking good!

[Andy VT]

2022 I tapped for buckets on Feb 20 (or maybe 21st), and I think it was the bulls-eye.
2022 was quite a year in maple history of course.
But anyway, I had big runs the week of Feb 20, a big run in the first few days of April, and big runs in between.
I had a total of 9 taps. I actually did two taps as a test on Feb 7, 2022, and although I only got a trickle, those taps didn't fare any worse over the course of the season than the Feb 20 taps.
Things I should mention: I do 5/16" drops into plastic pails with lids, so a pretty closed system versus traditional open spiles. I know its supposed to be gravity-is-gravity but I'm not 100% convinced yet that there's no difference. Spouts and tubing were brand new. I'm in Essex Junction, one of the warmest parts of Vermont, and "my" trees are all full-crown, full sun yard trees.

None of this is a refutal or rebuttal... just some info to get out there.

But I am holding for now. Very valuable info and insight from Ken and blissville and everyone else!

[tapdrinker]

tested sap is 6.7% combined with 8 trees. Tapping the rest tomorrow am. 27 gal collected this morning. Sap is running better about 12' up the trees. I have taps at ground level and 12' high.