central and southern Ohio 2024/2025

[buckeye gold]

Thought I'd get it started for the new season. I spent the day repairing laterals and installing new arch spiles from Middle Valley Maple today. Got three all repaired and tightened up then I ran disinfectant through them all. I got two more laterals to do and then start on the sugar shack/evaporator and tanks. Looking at tapping around January 1, 2025.

[eastky]

I'm a little south of you in eastern Ky, been cleaning lines and also trying the middle valley spiles this year, waiting on the weather to tap.
Good luck with your season

[buckeye gold]

Thanks eastky, I am about to finish up my lines and move on to getting the shack ready. Which middle valley spouts did you choose. I went with the clear barbed spouts. I am curious to see how they preform. I discovered the tubing tool is hard to use on them with no shoulders, but the spout ID seems a bit smaller and I been able to put the drops together by hand. I got the tees too. So far I only put one in a line with the arch backwards. I hope this cold and warm pattern holds, I already see trees running from woodpecker wounds. Good Luck to you too

[HappyTrails]

I may pass on this year or only tap the few tree in the very bottom of property. I'm in Morgan county and the drought was extreme all through fall. Trees dropped leaves early and were very stressed going into winter. Really not much rain fall to date and what have had has happened after leaves dropped.
I am far from expert in forestry or maple syrup, just old retired hobbyist guy that does this to give to family and friends. I love doing it, however after losing all my Ash, my big Elms dying and old mature white oak being threatened, I just not needing it bad enough to even take small risk. I have no idea how rest of year weather maybe to interrupt the spring food to my trees.
Of course just my opinion.
I only tap 25 to 30 trees anyway, but I sure do enjoy heck out of it.
Best a luck to you all, happy holidays and Happy Trails

[RC Maple]

I may pass on this year or only tap the few tree in the very bottom of property.

Sorry to hear that. We had a very dry fall here too, with just enough rain to keep us going through summer. I know the drought maps always showed we weren't the hardest hit area though. The trees here seemed to be pretty normal this fall, with good color and normal leaf drop. We still haven't had a wet spell with much rain. Hopefully, there is good rainfall in all our futures and maple production maintained.

[eastky]

Thanks eastky, I am about to finish up my lines and move on to getting the shack ready. Which middle valley spouts did you choose. I went with the clear barbed spouts. I am curious to see how they preform. I discovered the tubing tool is hard to use on them with no shoulders, but the spout ID seems a bit smaller and I been able to put the drops together by hand. I got the tees too. So far I only put one in a line with the arch backwards. I hope this cold and warm pattern holds, I already see trees running from woodpecker wounds. Good Luck to you too

I too need to clean the shack and get collection barrels ready, I got the green barbed spouts and tees as well, I am changing drops and tees this year, need to get them made up and put in, seems there is always something more to do, weather shows in the upper 50's and low 60's by the end of the week here, it looks better after the first of the year.