Costs and Returns with Vacuum Systems
A spreadsheet to calculate costs and returns of using vacuum sap collection systems.
Institution: Cornell University
Showing 51 – 60 of 63 resources
Sugar Maple and the Pear Thrips
This tiny insect can cause major leaf “tatter” and flower damage on sugar maples and orchard trees, by feeding and laying eggs on the young leaves and flowers as the buds open in spring.
Comparison of Visual Grading Methods
There does not appear to have been a published comparison of the different grading kits subsequent to the research that introduced caramel standards followed by glass standards. Consequently, we undertook a comparison of most of the grading kits that are currently in use.
Relating Spectrophotometer Readings to Visual Grading of Maple Syrup
Color grading of maple syrup is based on placing syrup samples within four or more categories based either on visual comparison to color references or measurement of light transmission with a spectrophotometer. With a spectrophotometer, specific transmission values are used as break points to divide syrup samples into color grades. The purpose of this report is to describe the lack of agreement between existing light transmission break points and visual grading and how this problem can be addressed.
Controlling Microbial Population in Sap Systems
Over the course of one maple sap season in Western New York that started approximately March 8, 2005 and ended April 9, 2005, four maple sap locations were sampled to determine the levels and diversity of microbial populations contained in the different sap samples.
New Tapping Guidelines
Here I explain why maple producers should know the growth rate of trees in addition to diameter to determine the number of tapholes per tree.
Weather Forecasts for Maple Producers
Weather conditions are the single most important factor affecting sap production in the sugar maple. Weather forecasts, therefore, can be a very valuable tool for maple syrup producers.
Shelf Life Extension of Maple Cream
Pure maple cream has a shelf life of less than one month if stored at room temperature. The maple cream may mold and physically separate into its maple syrup component during this period. The current product requires refrigeration to achieve an acceptable shelf life of 6 months. Our goal was to develop a process to attain 6 months shelf life at room temperature.
Cultural Methods for Establishing Sugar Maple in Field Plantings
A sugar maple plantation designed to examine specific cultural practices for efficient planting and enhancement of seedling survival and growth was established in 1997 at Cornell University’s Uihlein Sugar Maple Research/Extension Field Station near Lake Placid, New York. For 6 growing seasons after planting, the performance of specific treatments including tree shelter designs, weed control mats, and combinations of treatments for seedling survival and growth were measured. Treatments that were installed in combination with weed control mats provided increased seedling survival and enhanced growth increment during the study period.
A History of Taps and Tree Size
The current ‘traditional’ tap hole number guidelines involve adding a tap for each 5 inch dbh above 10 inches dbh. ‘Conservative’ guidelines involve placing one tap in trees 12 inch dbh and a second tap in trees more than 18 inches dbh. The reasons behind the traditional guidelines are not stated in the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, but the conservative guidelines are suggested when there is concern for tree health. The purpose of this article is discover where these guidelines came from and to re-establish the reasons why they exist.