Sweet Talk: All Things Maple
This ongoing podcast features interviews with researchers and educators about topics related to maple production and marketing.
Tag: Sap Collection
Showing 1 – 10 of 10 resources
Quarter-Inch Tubing: Is it a Better Option for Gravity Sap Collection?
Ten years ago, 3/16” diameter tubing was introduced to the marketplace as an alternative tubing to 5/16” diameter tubing. However, recent research shows that sap production in 3/16” tubing drops off as soon as the second year after installation due to microbial growth. A replacement for 3/16” diameter tubing in gravity systems could be 1/4” tubing. With almost twice the aperture of 3/16” tubing (0.049 sq inches compared to 0.0275 sq inches), 1/4″ inch tubing is less likely to plug from microbes yet is still able to create a full column of sap for gravity vacuum. Quarter-inch tubing is currently not available for maple producers but can be procured from other industries and, with modifications, will work for maple production.
North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, 3rd Ed.
Since 1958 the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual has served as a basic reference source for the production of pure maple products. This 2022 edition provides up-to-date, science-based information and recommendations relating to all aspects of the industry. The guidelines presented will help users ranging from the hobby and beginning producer level to those well-established in the industry. In addition, the information herein will benefit foresters, land managers, Extension and outreach personnel, and others aiming to provide assistance to those in the maple industry. Numerous photographs, tables, a glossary and hyperlinks to selected source materials are included.
This publication is also available in print, at www.mapleresearch.org/ordermanual.
Tubing Theory and Layout
The basics behind determining the best place to install a mainline and laterals in your sugarbush.
Maple Production for the Beginner Part 6: Tubing, Sap Storage and Boiling
Cornell University’s Maple Specialist, Steve Childs, offers this video series for beginning sugarmakers.
Maple Syrup Production for the Beginner Part 5: Sap Collection
Cornell University’s Maple Specialist, Steve Childs, offers this video series for beginning sugarmakers.
Maple Setup and Guidelines
Tips for designing tubing systems and tapping
Ask Proctor
Should I use 3/16″ or 5/16″ tubing? One of the first questions maple producers face when deciding to tube (or retube) a sugarbush is whether to use 3/16″ or 5/16″ tubing. This article explains some of the general rules that can be helpful in narrowing down the pros and cons of each approach.
3/16″ Tubing Research Results from The Uihlein Forest
There has been a lot of interest in 3/16″ tubing over the past several years. This article describes research results and possible future directions.
Assessing the Commercial Potential of a Site for Maple Sap Collection
These 9 variables are intended to help a potential commercial maple producer evaluate the relative merits of one or more selected woods for profitable maple production. A poor or medium rating does not mean that the woods should not be tapped but that production costs in money or labor will likely be higher or greater investments will be necessary to allow the sap collection to be established relative to other sites. Some problems may be avoided if the potential producer is a creative problem solver. Small-scale producers and hobby producers have less emphasis on financial return, so these variables are relevant but perhaps not weighted as heavily.