Progress report for ONE21-400
Project Information
This project seeks to catalyze nascent West Virginia-based hops growers collective by providing technical assistance and peer to peer mentorship to determine which of six market-demanded hops varieties are most suitable in West Virginia’s climate and develop the collective's overall capability to market their hops products.
Objective 1) Provide technical assistance and peer to peer mentorship to determine which of six market-demanded hops varieties, Cashmere, Centennial, Triumph, Saaz 72, Comet, and Zeus, are most suitable in West Virginia’s climate.
Discovery: Identify the varieties that yield the best production by collecting data regarding a) Pest and disease pressure b) Yield c) Variety quality/profile.
Objective 2) Provide technical assistance in order to facilitate cooperative marketing of hops amongst participating and future farmers
Discovery: By developing relationships amongst hops producers and buyers this project will create a collective marketing strategy to increase the amount of hops product grown in West Virginia that is utilized in craft brewing.
Farmer Impact: This project will produce a toolkit with specific data collected by the participating farmers, which will both mitigate risk for future producers and inform craft beverage makers about the hops that they can feasibly source in West Virginia.
West Virginia’s rolling rocky mountainous terrain and deep hollows between peaks trends agriculture towards diversified, small-scale farms. Physical geographical and topographic limitations that encourage crop diversity also requires that farmers work together collaboratively to meet demands of varied market sectors. It is becoming more common for producers to form cooperatives or growing groups and the Coalition is trying to encourage this with regards to hops production within the state. By assisting producers in diversifying into stable markets we aid in increasing farm profit, allowing them to live more equitably and expand sustainable farming efforts. This will allow for improvements to be made to farms and facilities, in turn improving the quality of life for individuals and communities.
The Craft beverage industry made an entrance into West Virginia in the mid 2000’s and is proving to be a stable industry. The emergence and stability of this industry have provided farmers with new market opportunities to produce honey, stone fruits, herbs, grains, and hops. Freefolk Brewery, for example, currently procures 2,600 pounds of hops annually. Two acres of hops are needed to serve this brewery. If small-scale producers produced .25 acres of hops, it would increase revenue by approximately $4,600-$8,600 per producer.
Due to the growth in the craft beverage industry, supported by the growing tourism industry, and community partners, such as the Coalition and Robert C. Byrd Institute, there is a real vocalized need for West Virginia grown hops. The Robert C. Byrd Institute has been supporting “Farm to Bottle” for several years, and the need for more farm products is expressed by craft beverage manufacturers at every event.
Farmers are working to establish a network of hops growers to provide for this market demand. This project will support these efforts through technical assistance and peer to peer mentorship as four growers help determine which of six market-demanded varieties of hops provide the best yields while also working together to establish a market plan for hops in the state. This project will build on past studies on the viability of commercial hops production within the state by expanding the varietal research which will aid in mitigating risk for future producers. The previous study, ‘Specialty Hops In West Virginia’ (Martel, 2017), was conducted by West Virginia State University. This study showcased the viability of three hops varieties for commercial-scale growth. It established growers on a commercial scale.
Cooperators
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
Research
Objective 1) Provide technical assistance and peer to peer mentorship to determine which of six market-demanded hops varieties, Cashmere, Centennial, Comet, Saaz 72, Triumph, and Zeus, are most suitable in West Virginia’s climate.
Methodology - Technical assistance and peer to peer mentorship; Production Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection
Prior to project commencement, The Coalition and technical assistance providers will determine growing techniques for each variety to be tested and create a best practices guide for participants.
The Coalition will facilitate a workshop amongst the farmer-participants on project installation and growing techniques with regards to each variety with regional hops growers. Throughout the life of this project, The Coalition will retain at least one direct production technical assistance advisor.
The Coalition will facilitate quarterly peer-to-peer meet-ups amongst project participants. These quarterly meetings will be opportunities to deposit data, coordinate with peers, and develop marketing strategies.
Technical assistance providers will also attend these to hear and respond to larger production concerns.
In order to determine the most suitable hops varieties, project participants will be provided data collection sheets (see attached) in order to collect data related to production amounts and perceived ease of growth and production management. Participants will be instructed on the frequency of online submission, which varies seasonally but will be required at least quarterly.
Measurement: Hops varieties will be viewed as successful if it demonstrates high yield and qualities that are desirable to the market as determined by partnering craft breweries as well as perceived as easy for production management.
Objective 2) Provide technical assistance in order to facilitate cooperative marketing of hops amongst participating and future farmers
Methodology: The Coalition will facilitate quarterly meetings amongst program participants and other producers who wish to join the hops growers collective. During the quarterly meetings, the Coalition will facilitate the development of a collective marketing strategy. This strategy will be determined by program participants through a participatory process. The Coalition believes that in order to catalyze the cohesive development of the West Virginia Hops Growers Collective, the Collective must buy-in and feel ownership of the work. The Coalition will bring in resources to conduct the work. This includes buy/grower mixers, cooperative development trainers, moderated panel discussion, etc.
Measurement: Five craft brewers will purchase 15% more of their hops from West Virginia farmers.
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Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
1 workshop on processing and drying of hops at Scott’s Farm in Ohio
1 workshop on pest and disease management
1 workshop on soil amendments
1 workshop on when to harvest
4 hop yard installation workshops completed
8 large cooperative group meetings
32 cooperative steering committee meetings
Participation Summary:
Education/outreach description:
Co-op Model & Development Process December 2021
August 2021-January 2022:
Consultations: The four producers were consulted by Schmidt's Farm regarding hop yard locations and hop yard design layout.
Curricula, factsheets, and educational tools: Four power point presentations were created and shared with the producers on soil sample analysis and interpretation, best growing practices for hop production, trellising designs, and cooperative formation.
Webinars, talks, and presentations:
Four virtual presentations were hosted by West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition on soil sample analysis and interpretation, best growing practices for hop production, trellising designs, and cooperative formation. There were question and answer segments for all four virtual presentations. One to 8 participants joined for each presentation.
Three workshops were held at Hopped Up Farm for making products for pest and disease management, soil amendments, and on cultural yard management practices. Six to eight participants were in attendance.
Two workshops were held at Turtle on a Post and led by Fred Antolini from Hopped Up Farm for when to harvest hops and how/when to prune. Six to eight participants were in attendance.
One workshop was held at Random Rabbit and led by Fred Antolini on building a hops picker for harvesting. Nine participants were in attendance.
January 2022-January 2023:
Curricula, factsheets, and educational tools:
Four self paced hops growing courses were provided through Michigan State University. Three out of four of the farmers enrolled in the course.
One in person workshop was held at Scott’s Farm in Ohio. One farm out of the four participated in the workshop.
Four hop yard installation workshops were held and completed by all four participating farms.
Four cooperative formation meetings were held with the larger group.
Fourteen educational meetings were held with Ohio State University and the Cooperative’s Steering Committee on the formation of a cooperative.
In progress for 2022: Three more workshops will be determined by the participants and provided by West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition. Data will be collected and analyzed throughout the growing season.
January 2023-January 2024:
Curricula, factsheets, and educational tools:
One workshop was held for making products for pest and disease management.
One workshop was held for making soil amendments.
One workshop was held for cultural yard management practices.
One workshop was held for when to harvest hops.
One workshop was held on building a hops picker for harvesting.
One workshop was held for pruning.
In progress for 2023:
Three more workshops will be determined by the participants and provided by West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition. Data will be collected and analyzed throughout the growing season.
Hops Growing Toolkit will be generated and completed in 2024.
General Outreach to Hops Growers Collective Events
Mountain State Co-Hop has officially been formed and has been attending events throughout the state in 2023 to educate about the Cooperative. The cooperative has grown to have 9 hops growing members.
Conference Presentation
Presentation will be given at the 2024 Small Farms Conference in February. This presentation will be in the form of a panel discussion with the project's participants.
The Coalition will deliver a presentation of the results during the annual West Virginia Small Farms Conference, which is attended by over 500 farmers and agricultural service providers.
Publish Tool-Kit - As part of the project, the Coalition will develop a tool-kit that details the results of the project that also includes 1) Best practices for growing hops in West Virginia 2) Details on the Hops Growers Collective, 3) the marketing strategy that other farmers can participate in. This toolkit will be available for attendees at the Small Farms Conference and permanently available on the Coalition’s website.
Learning Outcomes
4 Farmers reported changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness as a result of their participation
Key areas in which farmers reported changes in knowledge, attitude, skills and/or awareness:
From the workshops that have already been held, participants have learned the following skills:
- Trellising requirements for hops.
- Fertilization and water requirements for hops.
- How to dry and process hops.
- Pest and disease identification and management.
- How to install trellising for a hop yard.
- Best practices for growing hops.
- How to form a cooperative and market as a cooperative.
- How to make soil amendments.
- How to make products for pest and disease management.
- How and when to prune hops.
- How and when to harvest hops.
- How to build a hops picker.
- Hop yard cultural management practices.
Project Outcomes
4 Grants applied for that built upon this project.
4 Grant received that built upon this project.
$29,999.00 Dollar amount of grant received that built upon this project through NE SARE.
$59,713 awarded from Specialty Crop Block Grant Stimulus funds which build upon this project.
$33,716 awarded from Specialty Crop Block Grant which build upon this project.
$25,000 awarded from ARC Power grant which build upon this project.
10 New working collaborations.
Through our data findings, it appears that the varieties of Centennial, Comet, and Saaz 72 perform the best out of the six varieties chosen to compare. We will provide a more detailed analysis of our findings in the Hops Growing Tool Kit.
Learning Outcomes
From the workshops that have already been held, participants have learned the following skills:
- Trellising requirements for hops.
- Fertilization and water requirements for hops.
- How to dry and process hops.
- Pest and disease identification and management.
- How to install trellising for a hop yard.
- Best practices for growing hops.
- How to form a cooperative and market as a cooperative.
Project Outcomes
August 2021-January 2022:
It's still early in the project to talk about changes in practices or behaviors, however, there are some updates to be shared. The participants have been meeting regularly and discussing all of the details of their cooperative development. They've also met with the Ohio State University's Cooperative Development Center. Additionally, getting equipment from other grants will likely help to catalyze this group.
January 2022-January 2023:
All four ¼ acre hop yards have been installed and planted. Due to late planting the data isn’t as robust as we had hoped. Thus far, Comet and Saaz 72 so the most promise for growing in West Virginia’s climate.
Hops Variety Data 2022Hops Variety Data 2022