Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[TapTapTap]

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 call them DRS (dirty rotten squirrels) because when I use the word squirrel our dog gets all wound up when I say their name. She hates squirrels like any good sugarbush dog.

We had a bad acorn crop since the oaks got decimated by the gypsy moths (for the second year in a row) which resulted in almost no acorns. So I would have thought that gummy drop lines would have been their fall back.

I too was surprised how well the woods held vacuum this week.

Ken

[DrTimPerkins]

tested sap is 6.7% combined with 8 trees. …..Sap is running better about 12' up the trees. I have taps at ground level and 12' high.

Great sugar content. As far as the 12’ and ground level goes, are you on buckets (gravity)?

[VTfarmboy]

Last 2 day time runs yielded .50gpt total still testing 2.25%

[Andy VT]

How's your flow now in Willison Ken?
I hear there's some kind of game on tonight... I should probably turn that on... but still having a twitchy drill-trigger finger!

[smokeyamber]

Just tapped in 40 trees on 3/16 and man all were running hard ! I may jump the gun and tap in buckets this week. I know it's kinda early, but looks like a week of good runs !

[VTfarmboy]

Another good haul today .60gpt still testing 2.25% making very light med amber/rich, nice flavor minimal sand.... losing snow fast....3/16 absolutely smoking today!

[Andy VT]

I have begun my thirty taps near 5 corners Essex Junction, in between feeding kids and getting them to bed etc.
5/16" drops to plastic pails on the ground. Using up my new from last year plastic spouts and will also use some new stainless steel sap-meister spouts. I am tapping one week earlier than most of last year's taps, but one week later than last year's 2 test-taps, which also made it to the end of the season.
We'll see how it goes!
My target date was 2/20, and the forecast shows nothing but sugaring weather from now till then, so going for it.
3 taps will be buckets hanging on the tree. I will save those for last. Although gravity may be gravity I'm not convinced open spiles will have as long a season as new-material tubing drops. (Anyone got a study on that?).
Good luck out there! I'm putting my headlamp back on and doing a few more. I'm still pretty new at this, and carrying one papoose on my back, so it is slow going, but fun!

[TapTapTap]

I have begun my thirty taps near 5 corners Essex Junction, in between feeding kids and getting them to bed etc.
5/16" drops to plastic pails on the ground. Using up my new from last year plastic spouts and will also use some new stainless steel sap-meister spouts. I am tapping one week earlier than most of last year's taps, but one week later than last year's 2 test-taps, which also made it to the end of the season.
We'll see how it goes!
My target date was 2/20, and the forecast shows nothing but sugaring weather from now till then, so going for it.
3 taps will be buckets hanging on the tree. I will save those for last. Although gravity may be gravity I'm not convinced open spiles will have as long a season as new-material tubing drops. (Anyone got a study on that?).
Good luck out there! I'm putting my headlamp back on and doing a few more. I'm still pretty new at this, and carrying one papoose on my back, so it is slow going, but fun!

Hi Andy
Good luck. We're doing our first boil of the season tomorrow. You're welcome to stop by anytime, as are any of our sugaring friends.

Ken

[Andy VT]

Hi Andy
Good luck. We're doing our first boil of the season tomorrow. You're welcome to stop by anytime, as are any of our sugaring friends.

Ken

I'll definitely stop by sometime! Thanks!
Last night I tapped 10 of the 30 taps I have planned. Only 2 were sugar maple; rest were norways. Got almost 3 gallons sap by this afternoon; most of it from the sugar maple. The norways do produce way less sap.

[VT_K9]

This is definitely the year to be ready in early February. For the past three years we have tapped in by February 25th give or take a couple days. This year has been full of hurdles. Starting last year I had a role change (promotion) at my job which put me on days. I had been working 1p-1a prior to that and it gave me every day to be in the woods with my Dad. That time hasn't been there this year let alone not many days off. My brother in-law pass unexpectedly in early December and I have been working at his place to make it livable to rent out. I stopped that a week ago to focus on the sugaring on my time off.

We have about 1/3 of our taps in. We replaced about 100' of 1" mainline today due to unexpected damage. It was planned to be done in the last year, but see above. It will definitely help maintain high vacuum. We should have the other taps in by the end of the week. Then we can focus on the new CDL hut sap lifter installation. Lines are run, just need to hook to the vacuum supply and woods.