Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[Andy VT]

Well, my Essex Junction, VT maple adventure continues with my 5/16 drops to buckets.
Feb 13 I tapped 10 taps... 2 sugar, 8 norway.
Feb 19 I tapped 4 more... 1 sugar, 1 norway, 2 silver (this is a huge tree that could easily do 6, but I'm keeping all trees to 1 or 2 at this time)
So far my total sap yield season-to-date is 12 gallons, 4 of which were from the last 24 hours, which I've been reducing down to quantities that can be kept in the fridge.
My record keeping now includes morning, mid-day, and evening temps.
I think these yields are trying to tell me the floodgates are not yet open, though the norways are a factor on the low yields... they are contributing very little.
The last day above freezing for a bit is tomorrow, so sometime this week I'll make a little syrup in the kitchen from what I have collected so far.
I'll bring it up to 30 taps in late February or maybe even the beginning of March.
Depends on whether we get another day that might run in February... if so, I'll finish the taps then.
The majority of the remaining taps are sugar maple.

[Andy VT]

Welp, the wait-until-March-if-you're-on-buckets people turned out to be right!
Fortunately my biggest and best sugar maples are not yet tapped and will stay that way through this freezing spell.

[VTfarmboy]

At just under 2/3 crop before freeze up... which we have never done in 20 years (usually do 1/3 crop in feb)... runs have been very strong for us...3/16 still impressing me every year... nothing has tested under 2%...we'll see what march brings!

[ecp]

VTfarmboy. Send some of that warmer weather north would you. HAHA

[VTfarmboy]

opened up some yesterday picked .30gpt testing 2.25%...been one week since last boil...big snow coming?

[Andy VT]

Well, the sap valve opened up yesterday, unfortunately while I was out of town. Wednesday afternoon would have been the perfect time to tap the remaining taps, but I'll have to do it tomorrow instead. Neighbors rescued the sap before much overflowed, and it is now evaporating down.
My little "operation" got some press the other day, that's a fun thing, check it out:
https://www.essexreporter.com/news/e...cc7baa96d.html

Well, my Essex Junction, VT maple adventure continues with my 5/16 drops to buckets.
Feb 13 I tapped 10 taps... 2 sugar, 8 norway.
Feb 19 I tapped 4 more... 1 sugar, 1 norway, 2 silver (this is a huge tree that could easily do 6, but I'm keeping all trees to 1 or 2 at this time)
So far my total sap yield season-to-date is 12 gallons, 4 of which were from the last 24 hours, which I've been reducing down to quantities that can be kept in the fridge.
My record keeping now includes morning, mid-day, and evening temps.
I think these yields are trying to tell me the floodgates are not yet open, though the norways are a factor on the low yields... they are contributing very little.
The last day above freezing for a bit is tomorrow, so sometime this week I'll make a little syrup in the kitchen from what I have collected so far.
I'll bring it up to 30 taps in late February or maybe even the beginning of March.
Depends on whether we get another day that might run in February... if so, I'll finish the taps then.
The majority of the remaining taps are sugar maple.

[VTfarmboy]

yesterday picked .40gpt testing 2.35% today picked .30gpt testing 2.2%...making very flavorful dark amber/robust

[TapTapTap]

My guys did a full brick replacement in the arch this week. Also replaced lots of ceramic blanket.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Kc3wHT4LHy3bvuCy5

Ken

[blissville maples]

yesterday picked .40gpt testing 2.35% today picked .30gpt testing 2.2%...making very flavorful dark amber/robust

High sugar for pre season on vac what you feed them trees! I'd of thought that would make some nice golden or atleast amber with the cool temps/no sun.

Opened up good yesterday our sugar around 1.7 but will climb once the trees sense spring. Usually after that first major week of runs in March.

[blissville maples]

Welp, the wait-until-March-if-you're-on-buckets people turned out to be right!
Fortunately my biggest and best sugar maples are not yet tapped and will stay that way through this freezing spell.

Haha I see it all the time, gravity folks see the vaccum guys get going and just can't resist! It's a hard concept to absorb but if there's no mud there's no sap for gravity! You need a good 20° temp swing for trees to generate enough pressure for gravity, that's what our vac pumps do as long as it's over 32°.