2024 Tapping Season

[AlRock]

All sugars.

[ebliese]

15 gallons collected today. Not sure of the sugar content but from the last collection we were around 1.5%. Thinking we might have reached the Dark grade from our boil this evening. Wondering if the forecasted rain on Friday will help, along with the forecasted low of 29 for Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise it really does seem like we are reaching the end for us. I don't think it is taphole drying because we tapped one tree last Friday (3/1) and it is behaving like all the other trees.

[ScottT]

No boiling today in the Thumb. Our silvers were completely open this past week. Sugar Maples were still tight as of Thursday, but no sap due to the temperature. Temperatures expected to go below freezing tonight through Tuesday. Hopeing for the best. Would like to get one last boil in. Season for us was too short. We've produced 3 gallons of syrup.

[toquin]

Done! Got down to 29 degrees last night but the trees are saying leave me alone. Not 1 drop. Made a little over half what we normally do,might have missed a couple of runs late Jan.Tapped Feb.3. Now for the hard part

[ebliese]

The trees started running yesterday about 1PM. We collected 80 gallons around noon today, 1.8% sugar. Still an Amber grade in the bottles but it's the low end of Amber. Kind of exciting for us as we haven't gotten this dark before.

[ScottT]

Pulled my silvers yesterday in the Thumb area. Very little in all buckets, and what I did get was a little could but tasted ok. Tapped 5 new sugar maples. Sugar Maple buds were still tight. Sap was flowing from them. Gushing actually. Temps this week look favorable. If this week is a bust, then it's over for me.

[toquin]

You southern tappers let us know what happens with this cold snap. 16 degrees on Wed???

[ScottT]

You southern tappers let us know what happens with this cold snap. 16 degrees on Wed???

I'll let you know on Thursday when we check our taps. We are in The Thumb. We'll see. I'm going to ride this out till the last bud opens.

[ebliese]

About 20 gallons collected today. Before Elle went to boil she was trying to fill the sight glasses and nothing was happening so she stuck her hand in the flue pan....maple jelly! Or maple goo. I believe this to be ropey based on posts here on the trader. So our season is over. The contents of the syrup pan appear to be good so we will finish that on the stove. There's still a bit left to bottle for us, too. The numbers aren't in yet but we'll be just shy of 25 gallons, I believe.

[ebliese]

Ok, numbers are in. 24.85 gallons of syrup bottled! Not too shabby, given the fact we tapped on February 11th which seemed to be later than others. The contents of our syrup pan we heated up on the stove and tasted and something seemed a little off so that will be used for goat food for the sister-in-law. We have a nice sampling of the grades, golden thru dark.