Submitted by here_f1shy_f1shy t3_1046qt8 in vermont
Criteria is usually when it's above freezing during day and below freezing at night during spring. Usually Feb-March(ish).
Would you get good sap right now? Half tempted to tap a tree just to see.
Comments
whaletacochamp t1_j33jwyj wrote
BUT, the sap isn't the same. 1.2% sugar right now vs 2% in the spring means MUCH more energy intensive to get product from your sap.
syphax t1_j33jt35 wrote
They don't have calendars, but they sure know something about the length of the day! Like temperature, it's pretty relevant to their basic operations
Vermontess t1_j335jky wrote
here_f1shy_f1shy OP t1_j336cr2 wrote
This is great, thank you. I gotta get out there!! Put my 20 tap Maple Empire to work. 😂
[deleted] t1_j3395cw wrote
[deleted]
whaletacochamp t1_j33js62 wrote
Another thing is that the sap right now is SUPER low in sugar content. During usual sugaring season the sugar content of the sap is usually about 2%. Right now it's about 1.2%. That means that it takes nearly twice as much energy to boil the sap down. BUT, you are left with a lighter (both in color and taste) syrup.
For this reason you will see all but the largest producers holding off right now. The math just doesn't check out. Hell I have two of the biggest producers in state literally in my back yard and neither of them bothered to get going for this run. I think they are thinking of starting to tap just to be ready for what seems like it will be an early season.
Outrageous-Outside61 t1_j33mcch wrote
We are getting 1.8 right now (Orange County) just started tapping (always start in Jan, 40k+ taps takes a long time)
Sucks dumping 1.8 so we might as well start boiling. Haha
whaletacochamp t1_j3453p8 wrote
Yeah if youre already tapping might as well boil at 1.8 for sure. Will have to check what my neighbors are seeing. I could hear them working today so I know they’re tapping but don’t know if they are running yet or not. Lots of work to do after that big Christmas blow. Luckily they leave most of it right by the trail for me to scavenge for firewood. They tap nearly 2k of my trees do we’ve got a good relationship
thisoneisnotasbad t1_j36i7y1 wrote
Given most large places use RO filters to refine the sap and only finish by boiling the lower sugar content is not too big a deal.
Even small ops can use fairly cheap ~200$ RO equipment to remove 40 to 60% of water preboil.
whaletacochamp t1_j36jsrm wrote
Sure, but I’ve heard from two huge makers at this point that 1.2 still isn’t worth it at that point.
thisoneisnotasbad t1_j36l2yc wrote
Which ones, I know the Brannons in Fairfield were boiling. They are one of the biggest producers in the state.
whaletacochamp t1_j36ljrv wrote
Green Mountain Mainlines (Sloan) and Mayotte.
Supposedly GMM is the second biggest in the state but that’s just what my neighbor told me…
Mayotte taps my tees and last I checked my property hadn’t even been tapped yet. Heading out momentarily to check.
Didn’t realize the Brannons were so big. My dad use to hunt with the family at their camp in Waterville/Bakersfield and they definitely had lines back then but I don’t think it was a huge operation. Of course this was 20+ years ago
thisoneisnotasbad t1_j36n7wx wrote
They are pretty big now and have moved largely from dairy to maple. Also turned they operation into a destination as much as a working farm, it is pretty impressive.
whaletacochamp t1_j36oie3 wrote
I’ll have to tell my dad. I think he’s still in contact with them all and would love to see the place. I went to their old place in Waterville years and years ago. Very cool property and buildings
whaletacochamp t1_j36mzzi wrote
Just checked and Mayotte hasn’t tapped yet, or at least not my section of woods.
anom_k t1_j33lngt wrote
Honestly, it hasn't even been going below freezing at night recently lmao
GraniteGeekNH t1_j33toj2 wrote
There are major operations in Vermont that boil in late December. !!!!
Technology is the difference: Improvements in taps, tubing and the use of 24/7 vacuum means that tap holes don't close up like they used to, so they can tap trees early and leave them tapped, capturing on-and-off sap runs during increasingly erratic winter.
Until climate change drives the maple forests north, but that's still a few decades away.
1010lala1010lala t1_j33j24t wrote
From what I heard on the radio, folks are tapping but the sugar content is lower than normal so you'll need more sap to get syrup.
Outrageous-Outside61 t1_j33m1l3 wrote
We are getting 1.8 sugar right now, just started tapping. Can’t justify dumping sap at 1.8, but weren’t really ready to boil. Probably gonna start.
pondusedtobeupthere t1_j35k6v8 wrote
Does it stress the trees going forward?
[deleted] t1_j33igp6 wrote
Wait , trees don’t know the dates ?????? Funny . I’m sure people will tap out real early this year
Jsr1 t1_j36h79o wrote
Sap’s running
JerryKook t1_j33aou9 wrote
Guess you are new to Vermont.
here_f1shy_f1shy OP t1_j33bu49 wrote
Been up here 6-7 years. This will be year 3 of sugaring so lots to learn!
Optimized_Orangutan t1_j3349d5 wrote
Big ops were boiling on new years this year. Small ops probably weren't ready to roll yet and/or didn't get enough sap to boil.
Edit: short answer: if it's below freezing at night and above freezing during the day sap will run. Trees don't have calendars.