Organic Hops Variety Trials and Over-wintering Study

		Introduction Methods Variety Descriptions Preliminary Observations Progress Report

Introduction There is great interest among Colorado microbrewers in locally grown hops. The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Marketing Division conducted a survey and received results from 33 of the 88 microbrewers in Colorado. Thirty of the microbrewers indicated that they would like to be able to purchase Colorado-grown hops, and over half of the surveyed microbrewers were interested in organically grown hops. There is also increasing interest among brewers to make a beer with green or "wet" hops. The production of a wet hop beer would require that the hops be at the brewery within 12 hours of harvest, which would require a local sources of hops. There is great promise for a hops industry in Colorado. Abundant sunshine and low humidity (which can reduce disease problems) are in our favor. High winds may be a problem in open plains areas since blowing dust could contaminate the lupulin glands. It will also be important to choose varieties that overwinter well. It hasn't been determined if buyers will require pelletized helps so processing facilities may or may not be required. Such a venture could be cooperatively owned and operated. Due to the interest in Colorado-grown hops, the CSU Specialty Crops Program is conducting an organic hops variety trial and over-wintering study at the Horticulture Research Center (HRC) northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado. Winter hardiness, alpha and beta acid values, brewing qualities, and yield will be evaluated for several varieties of hops (see below). We hope to collaborate in the future with West Slope research stations and growers to develop baseline hop production information for that region of the state as well. Methods The hop rhizomes were planted on certififed organic land at the HRC on June 1, 2004, approximately 7' apart (to keep varieties separate). Six plants each of 10 different varieties were planted for variety trials and two plants each of 4 additional varieties were planted for demonstration. Varieties were chosen based on range of alpha values, maturity times, and those commonly used by microbrewers in Colorado. We planted "regular" rhizomes. Some companies offer larger" jumbo" rhizomes for planting. The rhizome was planted vertically with the top of the rhizome approximately 1.5" below the soil surface. A shovel-full of composted manure was mixed in with the soil surrounding the rhizome. The hops were watered with drip irrigation. The winter of 2005 offered temperatures consistently below freezing with several nights of below zero temperatures providing for a good test of winter hardiness. On May 25, 2005, the hops trellis was built using 14' long 3" diamater iron well pipe. The pipe was pounded 4' into the ground every 20' in row. High tensile wire was stretched on the top and bottom of the trellis. Baling twine was tied from the bottom to the top in a "v" formation to allow the bines to climb. On June 1, 2005, the plants were trimmed back to 4 main bines. Two bines were guided to each twine.   On June 22, 1-2 gallons of composted dairy manure were applied to the base of each hop plant. Leafhoppers and spider mites, common pests on hops, were present but did not merit control. No powdery mildew was observed on the plants. Variety Descriptions Below is a list and description of the varieties being grown for variety trials and demonstration at the HRC.

Preliminary Observations

Winter survival was very good, 61 out of the 66 hops rhizomes planted in 2004 survived the winter. Canadian Red Vine, Chinook, Cascade, and Centennial were the first to flower on July 6, 2005. Canadian Red Vine, Chinook, and Cascade seemed to produce the most cones during this first year of cone production (2005) based purely on observation. Hop cones were not harvested this year since production was minimal, they will however be harvested in 2006 and tested for alpha and beta acids.

The 2002-2003 Grower Grant entitled "Hop Variety Test in Western Colorado" offers more information on growing hops on the West Slope of Colorado near Paonia and gives more yield information on the varieties grown there. Hop research is also being conducted at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center at Rogers Mesa.

Progress Report

Harvest Year 2007

State of the Hop Industry 2007

Since the early 1990s the world hop industry has been in recession. During that time there was a surplus of hops, and market prices were near or below the cost of production. Consequently, many growers elected to reduce their acreage or plant new high alpha varieties that help to improve profitability

In 2007 hop prices increased due to poor yields in Europe and Australia, crop loss in Slovenia and favorable currency exchange rates that have increased demand for US hops in Europe. Additional supply pressure was the result of a warehouse fire that destroyed 4 percent of US hops and an increase in hop demand for uses other than brewing. The increase in demand for hops has affected small buyers. Small brewers without contracts for hops are paying up to $35/lb when available. Currently over 80% of hop production is contracted through 2010 and smaller breweries and home brewers will continue to compete for the remainder

To meet the increasing demand, 8000 new acres of hops were planted in 2008 (harvesting in 1 to 3 years) bringing total cultivation to approximately 39,000 acres. Of that acreage a very small portion are certified organic. In response to industry pressure, the USDA ruled in May 2007 that certified organic beer is not required to have organic hops, due to lack of organic varieties in the marketplace.

Regardless of the USDA decision, organic hops are at an even higher demand, though reliable statistics are not available. In Colorado, only 2 acres of conventionally grown hops were put into production in 2006. In 2008 it is estimated that 50-100 acres of hops were planted in Delta County, most of which will be grown organically. New hop growers will have a high rate of success provided they pursue strategies that include:

• Initial small scale organic production, using newest trellising technology and limited farm inputs,
• Low harvest processing and distribution costs, and
• Contracts with local brewers or homebrew supply stores.

Organic Hops at CSU

The Organic Hops Project at Colorado State University is a continuation of a Specialty Crops program. The original project was a variety and over-wintering trial of organically grown hops, planted in 2004 at the CSU Horticultural Field Research Center in Fort Collins. A similar project was started in 2002 at the CSU Rogers Mesa Agriculture Experiment Station in Hotchkiss. Over the span of four years, a total of 20 varieties have been planted and tested.

The Fort Collins hop yard consists of 62 plants of 13 varieties planted in one 450 ft row. Ten varieties are planted in three replications, two plants per replication, with each planted 7 feet apart. The remaining three varieties, which are “demonstration” varieties of European origin, are planted two plants per variety, with each planted four feet apart. Plants are supported by baling twine strung at an angle to a 10-foot high trellis. Two of the three replications of 10 varieties were strung onto three strings of twine, two bines per string. The final replication was strung onto two strings of twine, one bine per string. The purpose of which was to determine if extra bine cultivation affects yield. Trellis support consists of high tensile wire strung between metal drill pipe poles spaced 20 feet apart.

All Plants are drip irrigated daily at sufficient rates to avoid any drought stress. Plants are fertilized in May with compost and straw mulch is laid between hills to conserve water and suppress weed growth. Other modes of weed suppression included flame and hand weeding. Aisles on either sides of the row consist of mostly alfalfa. Hops were harvested by hand, taking less than one hour per plant.

2007 Harvest

There were very distinct yield differences in varieties demonstrating the necessity for conducting Colorado specific variety trials. Of the 13 varieties grown only six had harvests that were economically viable (Figure 1). Red Vine had the highest yield but it is an ornamental hop with an approximate reported alpha acid level of 4%. The brewing qualities of Red Vine have not yet been determined. All hops were used along with hops grown by Odell Brewery employees, in Odell’s “Hand Picked Pale Ale.” This limited release was served for one week in October at limited locations in Fort Collins and received excellent revues.

Minor setbacks to the project in 2007 were mainly due to late cultivation practices and adverse weather conditions. Hail, high winds, and a late frost in early June retarded new shoot growth, setting the plant growth back by a few weeks. Pests and diseases were closely monitored and proved minimal. The main threats to hop production in the Pacific Northwest include: powdery mildew, downy mildew, spider mites and hop-damson aphid. The fungal mildew diseases are especially serious, and have been responsible for crop failures both in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast growing regions. These diseases have not yet been observed on Colorado hops. Pest damage was minimal; aphid colonies started to appear late in the season after most varieties had been harvested, though these were kept under control by a healthy ecosystem of predatory insects. No pesticides or fungicides were sprayed.

Updated 03/11/09