We began irrigating on the week of June 1st and will continue to irrigate until harvest at the end of August. Hops require a lot of water! We strongly recommend that you irrigate, and once you are done, irrigate some more. Chris Lattak of the Trickl-eez irrigation company recommends 16 gallons per plant per week. That’s a hard number to hit – we won’t be reaching it because we’d run the well dry – but it’s a good goal. For evidence to the value in irrigation, see this recent SARE grant study from Aroostook Farm in Maine: http://www.aroostookhops.com/uploads/SAREFinalReport2012FNE11-711.pdf. This year we also added a fertigation system, which applies fertilizer through the drip irrigation. The fertigation started the week of June 9th. More information to come on our fertigation system.
Posts
Downy Mildew Management
We have been receiving inquiries as to Downy Mildew diagnosis and management techniques. Our Downy Mildew fact sheet (Link is below) has quite a bit of information that can be helpful. As always, please contact us if you have specific questions, or if we can elaborate on anything found within the fact sheet.
http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/DownyMildew.pdf
Keep calm and hop on
Yellow, stunted basal spike = downy mildew.
Early season hops work
Hello hop enthusiasts!
We hope that all of your hops are beginning to grow and green up as the season gets into full swing. This year we are conducting a crowning date experiment. The first crowning date occurred on April 14th, and the second on May 12th. Stay tuned for growth and production updates!
We will begin spraying for downy mildew this week. We have observed a few characteristic pale green – yellow, stunted basal spikes in Alburgh, VT (image). We will spray for the first time before wet weather returns later this week.
As in years past, we will begin scouting for insects on June 1st as they start filtering into the hopyard.
GROWERS: We have gotten many inquiries as to what pesticides to use. Please fill out a short questionnaire (7 easy questions) about pesticide use and application. The link is below.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JG93HMB.
As always, please contact us if you have questions or if we can assist in anyway.
Keep calm and hop on!
5th Annual Hops Conference
Just a Quick reminder that the UVM Extensions 5th annual hops conference will be held on February 27th, from 9am-4pm, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT! Registration begins at 8:30 am. There is a wonderful line up of speakers this year with a wide range of knowledge and expertise. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/hops. If you plan on attending, please RSVP by February 21st by going to www.uvm.edu/extension/hopsconference. We hope to see you all there!
Cheers!
2013 UVM Mobile Hops Harvester Summary
The UVM Mobile Hops Harvester visited six hop yards this year, harvesting approximately 400 dry pounds of hops over a 4 week period, plus harvesting the UVM research hop yard. This harvester, developed as a result of a Northeast Hops Alliance, UVM Extension, VT Agency of Ag Food and Markets, and MA Department of Agriculture sponsored project, aims to provide proof of concept of a mobile hops harvester in support of the re-emerging hop industry in the Northeast US.
View the UVM Extension AgEngineering Blog to see the full summary written by Chris Callahan, UVM Ag Engineer.
Hops Quality Analysis available now at UVM Lab!
Hops Quality Analysis is now available through the UVM Lab. At this time we have one test available for Brewing Values (BV’s). This test determines Alpha acids, Beta acids and Hops Storage Index (HSI) and cost $30 for each sample. We follow the ASBC Hops-6a methodology to ensure accuracy for all values. Click here for the Hops Analysis Submission Form. This form can also be found on our website at www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil.
August 1st Annual Field Day
Hi All,
A quick reminder that our Annual field day is happening this Thursday (August 1st) at Boderview Research Farm in Alburgh,VT! There will be an informational session in our hopyard in the early afternoon; along with many other great opportunities to learn throughout the day. below is a link to the brochure, which will explain how to register. All farmers/growers may attend free of charge.
http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/2013brochure.pdf
Hope to see you there!!
Massachusetts Hops Field Day
Join us for a tour of Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA with the L’Etoile family on Thursday, August 15, 2013, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Learn about growing hops, including planning, budgeting, building the hop yard, picking/harvesting, drying, compacting and packaging. Equipment demonstrations include a Wolf harvester, customer built drying system and compactor.
The UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Team will be there to provide research updates on fertility requirements, variety selection, pest management and other best management practices.
Register online by August 9th at www.uvm.edu/extension/mahops
Registration is $15 and includes lunch.
View our event flyer – http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/hopsMA8152013.pdf
If you have any questions, please call Susan Brouillette or Heather Darby at 802-524-6501 or 1-800-639-2130 (Vermont only).
June 2013 Hops Scouting Report
As you scout for insects and disease in your hopyards this spring, undoubtedly dodging puddles, you are likely finding fewer critters than usual. The cool, wet weather that we have been experiencing lately has taken its toll on the insects that are typical for this time of year. However, downy mildew is one problem that most of us are dealing with as a result of these conditions. For comprehensive information about downy mildew, disease symptoms and management in hops, check out the following factsheet: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/DownyMildew.pdf
If you would like to confirm whether or not downy mildew has infected your hop plants, you can submit a sample to your local University Extension Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. Visit their website or call for specifications on how to prepare and submit a sample. A diagnosis will cost between $15 and $30, depending on the lab. Contact your local Plant Diagnostic Lab by following the links below or contacting your local Extension office:
Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic
334 Plant Science Building
Ithaca, NY 14853
101 University Drive, Suite A7
Amherst, MA 01002
University of Vermont Plant Diagnostic Clinic
201 Jeffords Building
63 Carrigan Drive
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
Other pests that can really take advantage of the cool, wet weather are snails and slugs. These slimy pests are generalist feeders, and during prolonged periods of spring rains, can do damage to just about any crop. They are not generally a serious problem, but if they are, they can be easily managed with iron phosphate-based products.
Despite the slow start, insect and mite populations in hopyards are on the rise. The first generation of potato leafhoppers have made their perennial journey up from the south and have begun to lay their eggs throughout the region. We have also begun to find pockets of hop aphids and two-spotted spider mites. The good news is that along with these problematic species, we have also been finding plenty of beneficial insects that can lend a hand in managing the pests. We have been finding spider mite destroyers, plenty of their ladybug cousins, and the distinctively stalked lacewing eggs and crowned predacious stink bug eggs foreshadow good news to come.
For more information about the organisms discussed above, and plenty more, please check out our hops program website: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/hops
And of course, keep calm and hop on…