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Report on Maple Sap Flow for 2008

at Yoder's Sugarbush in northern Indiana
   photo of spile
Try your hand at predicting the sap flow | Our thanks to all the volunteers who are helping with Sugar Bush 2008
 

Final Report 4/2/08

After a slow start, the 2008 season finished on April 1is one of the best on record for northern Indiana. We look forward to Sugar Bush 2009.

Current Weather Outlook for the Sugarbush

Weather Conditions We Like to See

Sap flow is sensitively linked to weather conditions. Good flow comes with below freezing temperatures at night followed by bright sunshine and daytime temperatures well above freezing.Runs can occur with a falling barometer such as may occur before a wet March snowstorm. Flow does not occur if temperatures remain below freezing.

Flow ceases once overnight temperatures consistently remain above freezing.

In the example shown at the right, temperatures were at freezing Saturday evening, (left arrow) but there was a dramatic rise to nearly 60 degrees about 2:30 am Sunday morning. (arrow at right) This produced a voluminous sap flow that carried on into Monday and Tuesday even after the temperature decreased.

 photo -- recording thermometer at the sugarbush for 2/25/01