USA: Hops production up 20% last year

The US hops production grew 20 percent last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its annual crop production report on January 12.

Production for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in 2017 totaled a record high 104 million pounds, up 20 percent from the 2016 crop of 87.1 million pounds, USDA reported.

Combined area harvested for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in 2017 totaled a record high 53,282 acres, up 5 percent from the 2016 level of 50,857 acres. Harvested acreage increased in all three States; 24 percent in Idaho, 3 percent in Washington, and 1 percent in Oregon. United States hop yield, at 1,959 pounds per acre, increased 246 pounds from a year ago.

Washington produced 75 percent of the United States hop crop for 2017; while Idaho accounted for 13 percent and Oregon accounted for 11 percent. The 2017 crop year marked the first time Idaho hop production surpassed production in Oregon.

Cascade, Centennial, Zeus, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic were the six leading varieties in Washington, accounting for 54 percent of the State’s hop production. In Idaho, Zeus, Cascade, Amarillo, Mosaic, Citra, and Chinook were the major varieties, accounting for 69 percent of the State’s hop production. In Oregon, Nugget, Cascade, Willamette, and Citra were the major varieties, accounting for 53 percent of the State’s hop production.

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