The Aleanders' Hop Scientist

[hogie]

New crop could be brewing on Island

Scientist conducts demonstration project on fields growing hops similar to those used to produce beer

The possibility of a new cash crop for Island farmers is sprouting at the experimental farm in Harrington.

Agri-Food Canada scientist Aaron Mills has been conducting a demonstration project throughout the summer, evaluating four varieties of hops to provide local farmers with information on how to grow the valuable crop.

Harvesting his final yield, Mills said he was impressed with how well the crop has grown, despite being planted more than a month too late in the spring.

"It's a testament to how well this crop could do (on P.E.I.)," said Mills, adding that he hopes to at least triple the size of the plots for next year.

"It's a pretty resilient crop."

A member of the hemp family, hops is an indispensable ingredient for the brewing industry, giving beer its distinct flavour and bitterness.

Modern beer styles, commonly brewed by micro and craft breweries, are using an increasing amount of hops compared to traditional recipes.

Commercial hops used by Maritime microbreweries are typically grown in a few world regions, including Germany, some areas in the U.S. and the Czech Republic.

Poor weather and a jump in plant disease levels in some of these areas caused a massive hops shortage in 2007-2008, causing the commodity's price to jump through the roof.

Going prices for hops as a commodity are in the range of $3-4 per pound, and brewers pay between $8-15 per pound.

With the craft brewing industry moving towards using more local ingredients, the increased demand could provide a new opportunity for Atlantic farmers.

Mills' technique of growing hops is also more suitable to many Island farmers.

Hops are usually grown on a 20-foot high trellis system, towering at the same height as a two-storey building.

Mills has been testing the crop on a low trellis system to see how it reacts to pests, disease, Atlantic climate and soil conditions.

"Nobody's doing it this way, this is new," he said, pointing towards the six and a half foot trellis system.

"Normally, this is at least three times higher than this."

While hops grown on low trellis systems typically take a 25 to 30 per cent hit in yield, Mills pointed out the technique is more economical for starting up an operation.

"There are a few people growing hops on P.E.I., it's just a matter of determining how to manage the crop under Island conditions," said Mills.

"For example, Hughie and Don Campbell in Rose Valley have been growing hops for a few years now on their farm, and have been having great success with it."

Growth in the Atlantic microbrewery business has also resulted in a new demand for locally produced malting barley.

The main ingredient for brewing, barley has also been under the microscope at Harrington.

A tendency to sprout pre-harvest and being susceptible to Fusarium head blight are just two of the local challenges to growing malting barley.

Mills and fellow Agri-Food Canada scientist Dr. Richard Martin have been evaluating varieties adapted to the different growing conditions in regions of Atlantic Canada. Martin has been collaborating with barley breeders across Canada to find strains resistant to Fusarium head blight.

Mills has been testing some of the more promising varieties, as recommended by Martin, to see how they fit into the P.E.I. crop production system.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Business/2 ... n-Island/1

[wortly]

It is looking like it's hops media week:
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/ ... le/1446785" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even Nova Scotia is trying to make a go at it too :
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1267892.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

Good stuff Mr. Scientist guy.

[jeffsmith]

I'm definitely going to be giving the low trellis a go next year. Really hoping it'll help keep the hops in better shape in the marsh winds. Nice work!

[benwedge]

Modern beer styles, commonly brewed by micro and craft breweries, are using an increasing amount of hops compared to traditional recipes.

Hop-bombs aside, I think they're confusing "traditional" with "shit from big breweries from WWII on". Traditional, to me, means pre-industrial revolution.

[mr x]

I'm definitely going to be giving the low trellis a go next year. Really hoping it'll help keep the hops in better shape in the marsh winds. Nice work!

I'm thinking the same thing myself. Build it over the driveway, but at probably 8 feet.

[jeffsmith]

I'm thinking the same thing myself. Build it over the driveway, but at probably 8 feet.

I'm thinking closer to 8 feet as well. My plants are a bit closer to each other than they should be, so vertical space is pretty valuable.

[KitrGy]

Great job, mr scientist.. Lol that one may stick? Great for Island farming and craft brewing out here in the east. Great article. I have to get some of ours into the lab soon for some testing too.
Cheers,
Great job
Don

[wortly]

I'm definitely going to be giving the low trellis a go next year. Really hoping it'll help keep the hops in better shape in the marsh winds.

I think that 8 ft would be a good choice and would probably go with that if I was starting up. 0.75 m plant spacing and 3 m row spacing. I'll post all of the details once I compare notes with a colleague in Vermont who is doing the same thing.

We were lucky we got the trial in at all, it was a bitch sourcing the trellis material and believe it or not at the time we could not get our hands on a single 4X4 over 8 ft on PEI. As a result, one of the posts has now worked it's way loose. We are leaving the trellis material up over the winter to see how it makes out with the Island winter.

On a related note, I got an email from someone in NS who is working to form a Maritime Hops Co-operative. They are having a meeting at the upcoming ACORN conference in Hali in Nov to hammer out their organizational structure. This might be an good opportunity for anyone interested in ramping up their hops production to chat with other people in the industry. If you are interested in the co-operative, PM me and I can give you their contact info. This is starting to take off and could mean really good things for brewing on the East Coast.

[jeffsmith]

We were lucky we got the trial in at all, it was a bitch sourcing the trellis material

I remember you mentioning that to me—in the interim did you stumble across any sources in the Maritimes or a viable alternative that would be available locally?

[hogie]

Hops pitched to P.E.I. farmers

Hops can be a lucrative crop, says Aaron Mills. (Agriculture Canada)
Farmers on P.E.I. should be thinking about hops as a way of diversifying their farms, says an Agriculture Canada research scientist.

Aaron Mills will be making a presentation to farmers at the P.E.I. Soil and Crop Association Conference in Slemon Park, just outside of Summerside, on Wednesday.

Mills, who used to work in a brewery, told CBC News Maritime brewers are on the lookout for locally grown products.

"As a brewer and somebody that lives on P.E.I., I think any new crop that diversifies the landscape, it adds to, basically, the complexity of the rural scene," said Mills.

"I think it's a good thing, not so much as the crop that's going to save the world, but basically an option for small producers."

Mills said the start-up costs to grow hops is high, but an acre of crop can bring in more than $3,000 and the hops plant is perennial.

Crop trends
The more than 120 farmers expected at the three-day event, which started Tuesday night, will hear from several presenters on upcoming trends as well as business tips in agriculture.

Conference coordinator Margaret Butcher said the event will include presentations on corn and soybean crops and on marketing strategies.

"We try to keep up to the oncoming trends that are happening and that's why we're looking at things like grains, corns, and soybeans this year, because that's new commodities that growers can produce now that can help their profit line," said Butcher.

"We have it late February so that if there are other things that they're thinking of in terms of their crop choice, they can come and hear something they haven't heard before or get some questions answered."

The conference is open to the public.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-ed ... e-584.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jeffsmith]

Good luck Aaron! Hopefully there'll be lots of eyes opened and we'll start seeing more hops being grown on the Island.

[PEIBeerGuy]

Saw this, too... you scooped me, Hogie!
Another good Aleander / Brewnoser / wortly showing.

I also like how the vote's going on that page.

[mr x]

I finally got 2 minutes to stop and read that and say go man go.

[benwedge]

1. Kudos for using the old thread properly.
2. When I opened GoogleReader I knew the article referred to wortly just by reading the headline. Predictable home province is predictable.
3. Good job Aaron! If I land the gig I applied for back home for the summer there *will* be beer containing island hops.