Showing 251 – 260 of 276 resources

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.

Evaluation of Alternative Sap Ladders: Summary of 2002-2003 Research Project

This research project was established in the spring of 2002 to study the technique of lifting sap with simple “sap ladder” tubing structures. It was conducted during the production seasons of 2002 and 2003 in an operational setting at Wheelers Maple Products in Lanark County, Ontario.

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.

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.

Field Evaluation of the Small Diameter Spout for Maple Sap Collection

Beginning in 1999, a newly introduced maple sap spout for use in smaller diameter tapholes was evaluated at Cornell University’s Uihlein Sugar Maple Research/Extension Field Station near Lake Placid, New York. After two sap production seasons, no significant differences were found in sap volume yield and sap sugar concentration in maple sap collected with the small diameter spout compared with that of the conventional sap spouts.

Two Pipe Sap Ladder – A Promising Alternative

A two pipe sap ladder consists of a structure of two vertical pipes connecting the lower and upper sections of mainline. It was initially thought that the sap would lift in the pipe on the vacuum side and that air would travel through the pipe on the bush side. Results were not as expected.

Comparison of Alternative Sap Ladders Applied Research in Ontario

Sap ladders have been developed by maple producers in response to the challenge of transferring sap over gradients in sugar bushes. The main objectives of the present study are to learn more about sap ladders so that recommendations can be made regarding their comparative effectiveness.