Hops

The 2012 UVM Extension Winter Hops Conference will take place on March 19, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT. Please register for the conference online by clicking on “Order Now” below. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact UVM Extension at 802-524-6501 or 1-800-639-2130 by March 9, 2012 so that we may assist you.

Online event registration for The UVM Extension Winter Hops Conference powered by Eventbrite

Hop Surveys

Click here to take the Hops Survey for Growers

Click here to take the Hops Survey for Brewers

The Vermont Hops Project

Hops production was common throughout the Northeast in the 1800s. However, today most hops production occurs in the Pacific Northwest. Renewed interest and demand for local hops is breathing new life into an otherwise “historical” crop. To increase hops production in Vermont, the UVM Extension Crops and Soils Team is developing an outreach and applied research program for hops. Public interest in sourcing local foods also extends into beverages, and organic brewing is on the rise in conjunction with the expanding organic market. The Northeast Hop Alliance, in association with Cornell University, conducted a survey in 2002 which reported that the majority of breweries would be willing to pay a premium of between 5 – 10% for regional hops. In combination with a desire to buy local, Vermont has the most microbreweries per capita in the United States. These factors outline a need to investigate the viability for hops production in the area. Recently, we received an USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative grant in partnership with Washington State University, Colorado State University, and Michigan State University with the goal of developing organic hop agronomic practices and recommendations. We have also received funds for our research through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Specialty Crops Program to build a small-scale hops harvester. The Vermont Agricultural Innovations Center has also been a key partner in enabling a lot of our outreach programs, and thanks to their support, we are in the process of designing small-scale hops processing prototypes. We continue to work toward discovering the most viable varieties for organic production in our region. Ultimately we hope to find cultivars that combine disease resistance, high yields, and desirable brewing attributes. We are also investigating various fertility and pest management strategies for organic hop production. Stay tuned for more information on The Vermont Hops Project!