Please circulate this to any sugarmaker that you know who may not be on 
Tim's list.

Mike Ghia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Wilmot" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:51 AM
Subject: 2010 Tapping Survey


> Greetings Sugarmaker,  April 12, 2010
>
> This is the sixth annual maple survey, in which data is gathered about the 
> sap collecting process as well as other aspects of sugaring, so we can all 
> share and learn from this information. Data from this survey can help 
> direct new research at the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center.
>
> As in the past, I will treat all your replies confidentially and not link 
> names to any information or statements you send me. You will get a summary 
> when I am finished.
>
> Please email back your answers if possible:
>
> 1. In 2010 how many taps did you have on buckets?
>
> How many taps on tubing without vacuum?
>
> How many taps on tubing with vacuum?
>
> 2. How much syrup did you make (total gallons)?
>
> 3. What percent of taps are red maple?
>
> 4. What was the date of your last boil?
>
> 5. Was this year’s sap less / same / more sweet than normal?
>
> 6. What percent of your droplines were new this year?
>
> 7. What percent of your spouts or adaptors were new this year?
>
> 8. What percent were
>
> Check valve:
>
> Clear straight: LaPierre CDL
>
> 9. Describe problems with spouts/adaptors, if any.
>
> About what percent of spouts did you have problems with?
>
> 10. If you have vacuum, what type of pump was used:
>
> Dairy pump
>
> Oil Flood
>
> Oil cooled liquid ring Water cooled liquid ring
>
> Variable speed pump
>
> Other (describe)
>
> 11. Do you use a wetline/dryline tubing system?
>
> 12. If you didn’t use vacuum in 2010, are you planning to use vacuum next 
> year?
>
> 13. Was niter build up this year less / same / more than usual?
>
> 14. What percent of the syrup you made was darker than table grade?
>
> 15. Did any syrup have metabolism this year?
>
> 16. If you used RO this year, how far did you concentrate?
>
> 17. Do you have any of these invasive plants in your sugarbush: Barberry, 
> Honeysuckle, Buckthorn, Bittersweet, Garlic Mustard, Burning Bush?
>
> If so, how bad is the infestation?
>
> 18. Anything you wish you had done differently this year in terms of sap 
> collecting or anything else?
>
> 19. Any specific suggestions of future research topics that you are 
> interested in?
>
> Feel free to add comments.
>
> Please share this survey with any sugarmakers you know who do not use 
> email.
>
> Thank you, Tim
>
> -- 
> Tim Wilmot
> University of Vermont Extension Maple Specialist
> Proctor Maple Research Center
> P.O. Box 233
> Underhill Ctr., VT 05490
> 802-899-9926    Fax 802-899-5007
> [log in to unmask]
>