I dont even know why I look. Accu just changed its Feb. outlook to one day above freezing. Everything is ready but the weather.
I dont even know why I look. Accu just changed its Feb. outlook to one day above freezing. Everything is ready but the weather.
5th generation
2 1/2 Buckets
1010 gravity
2 new flat pans. Back pan now has 16 V's
Rebuilt the block arch 3x12
Homemade pre-heater,steamhood
MES Dolly RO
Yeah, same here in WI. It bounced like a rubber ball. If it's right, that will be a really late start for us.Originally Posted by toquin
42.82N
http://www.wsmaple.com
Same here in MA. I was looking at this weekend, then the 16th , then frozen now through the end of Feb.
2025 - Back to 50 taps.
2024 - Ended with 33 taps and another pancake breakfast
2023 - 25 taps. 9 Gallons and lots of sugar sand. 35 people over for breakfast
2022 - 8 x 14 sugarhouse and a steam bottler. 50 buckets! 9 Gallons syrup and 4 pounds of sugar
2021 - 20 x 30 Mason arch, 34 taps and 8 gallons. Dad hooked too.
2020 - 2 taps, 1/2 pint on a turkey fryer
That is what I saw just before I got onto this site. Accu weather shows nothing for us until sometime in March now for a thaw.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
Here is one more to join your company! It was tempting to tap during those last few days of January but we are glad we didn't. Maybe in two weeks the weather will turn? Wait and see.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
150 taps on buckets
Looking like the last week of February would be favorable to tap. That is, if the forecast stays the same. Given the colder weather we are having, what are your thoughts on how long it will take the trees to thaw and have good sap flow? I think this season might be the latest I will have tapped.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
150 taps on buckets
We are just used to the last few years of whacky weather. This year might be a normal year. Trees can thaw fast if its sunny and 45
5th generation
2 1/2 Buckets
1010 gravity
2 new flat pans. Back pan now has 16 V's
Rebuilt the block arch 3x12
Homemade pre-heater,steamhood
MES Dolly RO
2025 sugaring
As a rule we say any time after Valentines Day you better be ready to tap. With that said you must also go by the weather and not the calendar. Last year was a perfect example. We tapped on Feb. 1 last year and pulled taps on Feb. 29 and averaged .85 qt. of syrup per tap. I know a couple of producers that waited for the "normal" time and had a very short season. We have tapped since around 1972. Unfortunately our records don't go back that far. Tapping dates since 2007: 2007 tapped on Mar. 10; 2008, Mar.12; 2009,Mar.5; 2010,Mar.2; 2011,Feb.16; 2012,Feb.20; 2013,Mar.7; 2014,Mar.10; 2015,Mar.7; 2016,Feb.19; 2017, Feb.16; 2018,Feb.18; 2019,Mar.11; 2020,Mar.1; 2021,Feb.26; 2022,Didn't tap; 2023,Feb.8; 2024,Feb.4;. We have been a couple of days late and the sap was running when we tapped but I don't think we missed much. Don't get to rattled about tapping. We're not late. Just be ready when the weather dictates it. MAY YOUR BUCKETS RUN FULL
Last edited by dugit; 02-14-2025 at 02:03 PM.
amen, good mentality!
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
I think it seems "late" to me because the past few years have been tapping in early February. We also have only been keeping records since 2021 so we don't have as much data and experience to draw from. However, comparing my tap dates to Dugit's shows we have tapped within a few days of each other. It's very helpful data to see.
Guess I'm just excited to get going! With maybe some impatience mixed in.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
150 taps on buckets
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote