Craft Beer News from the Hops Farm
Craft Beer News from the Hops Farm
Quality of Hop Farm Production
Today’s hops farm growers know that the industry is competitive. Each company is shooting for the “Most Popular” award from craft beer producers. Therefore, harvesting under filed crops is crucial in hop farms. The quality must be adhered to with the avoidance of placing any crop which is in anyway less than perfect on the market. Craft beer producers look for the best of the best for their companies.
Hop farm producers should be determining the best date at which to harvest each variety of hop. One way to ensure this is done is by means of keeping detailed yearly records tracking such things as spring emergence and pruning. Hop farm producers also should compare each year’s analysis for verification that the current practices are effective on quality of the hop plants. When selecting where to purchase hops, craft beer breweries appreciate the holding of records so they can justify their product quality.
When to Harvest Hops
When it comes to the picking process, timing is critical. While the Northeast’s harvest season is mid-August through mid-September, some additional steps are helpful.
1) Harvesting hops early in the day. There should be no dew on the plants.
2) 45 minutes after cutting bines, hops need to be in the picking machine. Rapid degrading occurs when cut hops are exposed to the sun and its heat.
3) Cut hops bines should be kept under cover in the shade. Do not allow leaves to be blown off as this desiccates them causing the stems to dry out and become tough.
In the process of drying, picked hops should be promptly placed in a dryer. Keep in mind that hops, a food, need to be in food grade containers. Bags preferably need to be mesh as plastic ones may contain chemicals.
Hop Farm Production News
Hop farm producers and craft beer industries can find more information within the Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Cornell Cooperative Extension puts out a monthly edition of Northeast Hops News including articles, events, and even items for sale all pertaining to hops. Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension at:
Madison County, New York
100 Eaton Street
Morrisville, NY 13408
Phone: 315-684-3001 ext 127
Web: www.madisoncountycce.org
Steve Miller-NYS Hops Educator-Newsletter Editor
Sarah Ficken-Hops Program Assistant-Newsletter Production and Design
Jackie Dickerson-Hops Program Assistant-Newsletter Production and Design
