what a weird winter - or lack of?

[CTguy923]

is this weather giving anyone else anxiety besides me ??, last week this week looked perfect, now cold and stormy all week, next week so far looks a little better...i hate the not knowing

[Mike Van]

The weather ahead looks really good - Thursday should be a good run. Anything that doesn't run then is done for the season. My 2 cents.

[TheNamelessPoet]

Dave B, I seem to be just across the line from you in MA. Do you think the trees will start producing again? I have only been at this for a few years, its more of a hobby than anything else.

I haven't collected more than 90 or so gallons of sap I use drop lines into buckets. years past, i would have at least double that. I hope with this cold snap and snow, the trees reset and we can start the season over again.

thoughts anyone?

That is what I am expecting! well hoping for tbh, but I expect it to go back to relative normal once the temps are normal. Keep in mind as we all are getting frustrated... in northern CT Southern Mass, we are JUST getting into the start of the season, what we had (assuming weather normalizes like it seems to be this week,) was bonus! At least that is how I look at it.

[DaveB]

Dave B, I seem to be just across the line from you in MA. Do you think the trees will start producing again? I have only been at this for a few years, its more of a hobby than anything else.

I haven't collected more than 90 or so gallons of sap I use drop lines into buckets. years past, i would have at least double that. I hope with this cold snap and snow, the trees reset and we can start the season over again.

thoughts anyone?

That is what I am expecting! well hoping for tbh, but I expect it to go back to relative normal once the temps are normal. Keep in mind as we all are getting frustrated... in northern CT Southern Mass, we are JUST getting into the start of the season, what we had (assuming weather normalizes like it seems to be this week,) was bonus! At least that is how I look at it.

There's some pretty ideal weather coming up if you ask me. I wish it hadn't been so mild for as long as it was but you can't change the past. With today's snow and another system coming later this week along with decent temperatures, I would agree with the poster above that they should flow this week, especially on Thursday. I saw taps running on Sunday and next week looks like more of that with temps in the 20s and 30s so, yeah, I think the sap will still run. Like you said, it's technically just the beginning third of a normal season.

[Mike Van]

Some hope here for the rest of the season - 3 day sap totals - 60, 75 & 125 gal - Lots of that from the 30+ new ones i tapped, but most all the originals still producing. Great looking weather ahead too - Today i hit last years sap total, should turn out pretty good.

[TheNamelessPoet]

Some hope here for the rest of the season - 3 day sap totals - 60, 75 & 125 gal - Lots of that from the 30+ new ones i tapped, but most all the originals still producing. Great looking weather ahead too - Today i hit last years sap total, should turn out pretty good.

NICE!

The guy I tap with keeps wanting to add more taps because the yields have been relatively low. In CT the season (based on past years) we are just starting now so I think we got spoiled with getting extra so early. Now I am going to DEF end up with more than I can handle. going to be some LATE nights if we have a big run lol.

[lafite]

I boiled down another 140 gallons today. There is still another 50 gallons to boil. I've called it quits for today. Tomorrow I'll press 5 gallons and double my season total to 10+ gallons. I almost called it quits last week. I tapped in mid-Feb because of work.

[bryankloos]

My trees are running. RO'ed 150 gallons today and the tote is still filling.
I'll try to concentrate everything up to 8% and boil tomorrow and then RO what I collect tomorrow and repeat on Sunday.
Looking like I may get a decent yield after all...
Fingers crossed.

[Sugar Bear]

Not surprised at the first week or two of March. Never am and try not to tap more than 3 weeks prior to the first week of March.

Although this year was a serious head scratcher so broke my rule by 1 day.

Beginning to seem like a magical year. I Tapped Feb 6th and all taps are still doing well. A few Reds on drops to buckets are struggling a bit but that is it. Reds on Vacuum still clear and lively. Sugars bonkers ... Silvers Bonkers.

Processed at least 185 gallons yesterday and today. RO could be faster and so could be the steam pans but never had this much sap in a run, so it's got me thinking divided pan.

Been preheating my sap a bit for the RO so that it goes through a bit better.

Probably peak of the season this run. Pulled 12 inches of mercury all day on a 8 tap gravity run on 5/16 tubing today.

I'm getting tired for sure, and even more tired when I think of how much more may be on the way.

Syrup is back to medium amber.

[bryankloos]

Sugar Bear.
I'm probably selling my Mason 2x4XL at the end of the season... Just sayin'!
I'm in the same boat, slow RO, and longer than desired boils. Its all fine when the sap runs slowly, but when I'm getting 250 gallons/day I cant keep up.
Glad to hear things are running well in your neck of the woods.
All good here!