Germany: Hop acreage decreases for the first time after several years of growth

According to official data, hop acreage in Germany decreased by approximately 85 ha (-0.4 %) to 20,600 ha. Of these, 19,950 ha are mature hops with the rest being baby hops. This is the first slight decrease in German hop acreage after several years of increasing acreage, HVG said in its June report.

Major developments of varieties can be summarised as follows:

� The high alpha variety Herkules continues to increase slightly (+3.8 %). It amounts to almost 7,000 ha which is one third of the acreage and 45 % of production volume.

� Acreage of the aroma variety Hallertauer Tradition decreased slightly (-0.9 %) while Perle acreage rose (+ 1.0 %).

� The comparatively sharp decline in Hersbrucker acreage (-9.2 %) is striking.

� A reduction was actually expected for some other aroma varieties and for
flavour varieties.