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Results for: 'NR2 Shelburne Farms Maple Sugaring'

0:53

Grading

By: uvmext

Grade A pure maple syrup is graded on four criteria; density, clarity, color, and flavor. All syrup must be fit within a standard density of 66.9-68.9 percent sugar. Syrup must be clear and free of any suspended particles that could form during th...

1:42

Invasive Worms

By: uvmext

Gardeners know that earthworms can be beneficial for growing vegetables and flowers by helping with soil aeration and producing fertilizer through their castings. Sugar makers may not know that earthworms and relatively newer invaders the so-calle...

2:01

Measuring Syrup Density

By: uvmext

Most people know that to make maple syrup you have to do a lot of boiling. You collect the sap from the trees and you evaporator the water while concentrating the sugars. You might not know that to determine if you actually have correct density sy...

1:40

Sugarbush Value

By: uvmext

The recent period of expansion in the maple industry has seen both established operations grow and many new operations start from scratch. Some real estate listings of land include estimated potential taps. But how many of those taps are actually ...

1:18

Syrup Contests

By: uvmext

Summer is here and for maple sugar makers that means contest time. Entering syrup in a contest is a great way to show off your product, make sure your syrup meets standards and earn a class winner or best is show ribbon. There are a few things to ...

0:41

The First Sugarmakers

By: uvmext

Who were the first sugar makers? Many believe native Americans were the first to collect sugar from maple trees in North America. In fact, it was probably squirrels. Squirrels have been observed collecting encrusted sugar from the end twigs they n...

0:47

Vacuum

By: uvmext

Sap flows out of trees due to the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the tree. In the 1950s, maple researchers and producers found that adding vacuum pumps to tubing systems could increase this pressure differential and there...

1:59

Overdriving Spouts

By: uvmext

Although bucket spouts are still available, most spouts used in the maple industry currently are plastic and designed to be used with vacuum. Spouts are constructed of food-grade nylon or polycarbonate and are smaller in size (5/16" diameter) than...

2:28

2020 Season Start

By: uvmext

Reports of above average syrup production have been common across Vermont in 2020. Sugar makers report excellent quality syrup being produced throughout the season. In general, March was slightly above average for temperature and April was below a...