THOMASTON, Conn.—When to tap?

That’s always the sugarmaker dilemma every season but this year it seems more pronounced than others.

Wild weather and big temperature swings across the Maple Belt has had producers excited one minute and hesitant the next.

Contributing to the matter are Facebook posts from big producers who are forced to tap early because of the size of their operations, and capture early sap runs in December and January.

When to tap was the big topic of conversation this weekend at the annual meeting of the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut.

“I’m not sure when I’m going to start this season,” said Mat Wilkinson of 800-tap Wilkinson Maple Farm in Columbia, Conn. 

Offering some perspective was the keynote speaker at the meeting Bradley Gillilan of Gillilan Family Maple in Fletcher, Vt. who is a tubing installer and consultant to sugarmakers across the nation.

Gillilan said producers should review their production records from seasons’ past.

“Every producer has a 20-day money window,” he said. 

Gillilan said at his farm, the end date of his season has not changed much in the past 50 years. 

He said the peak of his production on his farm is generally between March 20 and April 10 every year.

“What you need to do is look at the end date of your window, back up eight weeks and that will be your taphole life,” Gillilan said.

He said that the start dates on his farm have started earlier—“but that is because of technology, not the weather.”

He said because he can keep vacuum on his taphole, the holes will have a longer life.

Meanwhile, across the industry, sugarmakers are still making lots of January syrup.

In Ohio, OSU maple agent Les Ober reported that many sugarmakers are underway with the 2024 season.

“There were big plans to tap and boil this week,” Ober said. “Below zero temperatures put out the proverbial flame on that.”

He said a few sugarmakers enjoyed runs last week.

“The Jim Cermak Sugarbush Creek Farm in Middlefield had a big run the middle of last week. 2.7 sugar content,” Ober told The Maple News. “Jason Howells in NW Pa. also had a big run. The Butcher family in Mt Vernon Ohio are tapping. However, they may have backed off waiting for milder weather."

"Once the weather breaks a lot taps will be put in,” Ober said.