Spout and Dropline Sanitation for High Maple Sap Yields

Techniques to manage spout and dropline sanitation in 5/16" vacuum tubing systems for high yield maple production.

[@fredA1234]

Oh great thanks for the info.

[@frankeem3820]

Those zap-bac spouts are nothing to write home about. My first year with them they did ok but after that they were useless. I had a lot of biofilm build up on the inside of them half way through the second season (this year) and my sap yield slowed right down. In order to get the sap yield that I needed I did something that I hate. I reamed my tap holes. It only amounted to about an extra weeks worth of running but I got my production numbers up to where they needed to be. I don't want to do that again. Have to adopt a different plan. I know someone else that had great yields and they didn't use check valve spouts just new straight spouts (don't know about the drops). I keep looking at different ideas.

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

I agree. ZapBac spouts do reasonably well the first year, but production is lower in the second and third years. Dr. Tim Perkins

[@mxgangrel]

So, do you need to rinse, clean, sanitize new taps and tubing?

[@fredA1234]

Great video I am fairly new to this so a lot of information. Why is using alcohol to clean your tabs in spouts illegal in the United States? What’s the big deal? Thanks Fred

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

Sanitizers are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Isopropyl Alcohol has not ever been registered with the EPA by the manufacturer for this use.

[@themadhatter196]

I have 130 tree sugar bush I own in Upstate, NY. Twenty trees are on a simple main line. I plan to sell the sap bulk to processors. I'm a beginner and put that line up last year. I've been planning to expand to the rest of the trees (big sugar maples) but trying to figure out my costs and equipment needed. Many things to learn, thanks!

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

Good luck with your season. As a beginner, you might check out scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=rsmpp for helpful information

[@themadhatter196]

@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter Much appreciated, great information!

[@capt.sparrow34]

I'm going to try putting the cv taps in-line on my laterals. I'll likely limit 10 taps per in-line cv tap. If vac is lost or reduced momentarily in the main line it will remain in the laterals.

[@timbishop97]

Can check valve spouts be reused if they are soaked in 400 ppm chlorine and rinsed prior to use?

[@tommwhole]

Hi. A few questions. 1. Where can I get the sprayer used to inject chlorine into the lines? And what kind is it? 2. How much bleach (can I is chlorox?) per gallon of water and how much diluted at each tap. 3. Does this fill my lateral lines as well? They are a little skuzzy in some spots. 4. When I let the first sap spill in ground to rinse out the bleach solution remains, do I so that from each tree or can I let all the sap run through my mainline and spilling just before my collection tote? Thank you.

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

They are offered by several maple equipment dealers.

[@Nick1Robert1Potter]

Dr. Tim, are you suggesting we use check valves and replace drops every three years? Or would using just check valves provide the same results?

[@williewilliewillieya]

Just use check valves every year. I think if i remember correctly from studies i've read, you'd get the highest yields by using a CV and new drop every year, however the labor/materials cost of this make simply using a CV and not replacing drops the most profitable approach.

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

Either use CVs and don't replace drops OR replace drops on a 3-yr rotation, with new spouts in intervening years.

[@TheLuke1184]

@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter When using check valve spouts you are still recommending replacing the CVs each year, correct?

[@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter]

@@TheLuke1184 The Leader Check-valve spout, like all single-use spouts, is designed to be replaced with a new spout each year.

[@TheLuke1184]

@@UVMProctorMapleResearchCenter So the exception to a single-use spot would be the ones that have two pieces, the "stubby" end on the drop and the actual spout that you replace? In that case, would you replace the stubby end on the same rotation as the drops?