FREAK STORMS HIT HOPS –

Serious Supply Problems Ahead

Yields from the 2007 crop will struggle to satisfy demand. That’s the consensus of opinion from hop dealers worldwide and the worrying thing is it doesn’t look as if it’s going to be any better next year.

The low prices over the last 7-8 years have encouraged many hop growers give up and grub their hops. For example in the US, since 1997, harvested hop acreage fell from about 8,300 acres to nearly 5,200 this year, and overall production dropped from 13.5 million pounds to an estimated 8.9 million pounds. The lower acreage coupled with freak weather in many hop growing areas means that this years crop will struggle to satisfy demand.

America saw some of the worst weather conditions for the time of year (June) for over 50 years. Winds gusting in excess of 60 mph, marble size hail stones and lightning hit hop fields in Bonners Farm, Boundary County, Idaho affecting over 450 acres of aroma hops. News from the US harvest is that yields are coming off quite well and alphas are well within the normal range.

In the UK severe flooding (late June and early July) and a very cold summer has caused problems for growers. Where the hops were underwater for a few days the plants looked under severe stress and yields will be hit. Wet ground meant that tractors couldn’t travel and sprays weren’t applied at the correct times so extra problems with pests and disease were encountered. The majority of the UK hops grew slowly through the summer with cold temperatures restricting growth. Harvest in Herefordshire is a week late because of this. First pickings are coming off this week with patchy results. Some hops are good some bad, it is very difficult to predict exactly how big the crop is but it is anticipated that growers will struggle to fulfill contracts in certain varieties.

In Germany and Slovenia hops have grown well but more weather problems have caused devastation, particularly in Slovenia. A mini tornado accompanied a heavy thunderstorm that ripped through the two main growing areas in mid August. It is yet to be confirmed but a total of 700 tonnes is said to have been lost; this equates to one third of the total Slovenian crop. Styrian Goldings and Super Styrians will be in very short supply. Germany also suffered similar storms but on a much smaller scale. It is anticipated that the better yields this year will offset losses from the storm.

Unfortunately 2007 will be a year that goes down in the history books for all the wrong reasons.

Archive Newsletters

Summer 2006 - New Receipe ideas
Spring 2006 - Organic News
Summer 2002 - UK & US Hops
May 2002 - Pilot takes off
December 2001 - Merry Xmas
May 2001 - Organic Hops