The hop harvest is well underway in the Northeastern U.S., but growers are reporting high aphid populations on hops yet to be harvested. The cool and wet weather we have been experiencing has contributed to an abundance of aphids on a variety of crops including hops. The hop aphid is one of the most …
Continue reading “Weather conditions prime for aphid infestations”
Our 10th Annual Crops and Soils Field Day is just 2 weeks away and you are invited! All farmers, Extension educators, ag service providers, and other interested folk are welcome to attend our annual event on Thursday July 27, 2017 at Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. This day-long event provides an opportunity to check out …
Continue reading “Registration Open for 10th Annual Crops and Soils Field Day, 7/27”
Well, 2016 was a droughty growing season, but so far 2017 is shaping up to be quite the opposite. This damp weather can be a problem for a few reasons but especially because it creates a haven for downy mildew infection which can greatly reduce harvest yield. Since mid-April, we have forecasted that 45% of …
As you know from previous What’s Hoppening posts, the first signs that a plant is infected with downy mildew will be basal spikes. But these are not the only symptoms of downy mildew. As the season progresses, aerial spikes and infected leaves will begin to appear. Like basal spikes, aerial spikes are indicative of systemic …
Our University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops & Soils (NWCS) Team is currently recruiting Northeast hop growers for a 3-year NE-SARE project looking to advance pest and nutrient management strategies for Northeast hop production. As a participant, you will have access to the following opportunities. Complete an introductory survey that allows us to collect basic …
Continue reading “Recruiting NE Hop Growers for Pest and Nutrient Management Project”
Excited for the 2017 growing season? We are…and so are the bugs! We recently published our final Organic Hop Variety Trial Report that includes 6 years of data on disease, weed, and insect pest populations found in our hopyard, as well as yield and quality performance of more than 20 hop varieties we evaluated. Our …
We invite you to join us for our 8th Annual Hop Conference scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2017. It will be held at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel in Burlington, VT, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. View our Conference flyer for details. This year’s conference will include both advanced and beginning sessions as well as hearing …
Continue reading “Mark Your Calendar: 8th Annual Hop Conference, February 25, 2017”
It’s almost harvest time, folks! With such a hot, dry year, be prepared for some varieties to be ready earlier than usual. Remember to check the labels on any pesticides you are using to allow the appropriate window between the last pesticide application and harvest. Have you seen our fact sheet on determining when hops …
As we are approaching the hottest time of year, with temperatures projected for the 90’s midweek, it is a great time to remind you to be on the lookout for two spotted spider mites. These tiny cousins of spiders also produce webbing, though spider mites use it to protect themselves (from the elements, natural enemies …
Continue reading “Summertime and the Living is Easy…Especially if You’re a Two Spotted Spider Mite”
As we’ve transitioned from spring to the official start of summer on June 21, our hops have been going through all sorts of physiological changes. Technically speaking, hop plants go through a number of growth phases throughout the year, called “phenophases.” Back in 1995, German researcher Rossbauer and colleagues published an article, outlining specific phenological …
Continue reading “Hop Plant Growth Phases from Spring to Summer”