2015 Annual Report for FNC15-997
The Economic Impact of Fall Planting vs Spring Planting Hops
Summary
WORK ACTIVITIES
Summer 2015 was spent establishing the trellis system in the research hop yard as well as fall planting hops. A portion of our hop yard was set aside specifically for the research yard. The research yard consists of 18, 200-foot-long rows. Each row consists of 6, 20-to-23-foot cedar poles spaced at 40 feet apart. Going along the top of each row of poles, and anchored to the ground at the end of the row, is 5/16 aircraft cable. After testing the soil we found that no amendments were necessary.
In August of 2015 we planted 9 rows of hops. We planted Tahoma, Chinook, Cashmere, and Centennial hops. We fall planted 65 plants in a row with 3 foot spacing between plants. 585 total plants were fall planted.
RESULTS
We currently do not have any results from our project. The beginning of the research began in August with the fall planting of 9 rows of hops.
WORK PLAN FOR 2016
In April of 2016 we will plant the Spring planted hops. We will document and compare the stages of both fall and spring planted hops throughout the growing process. In August/September of 2016 we will harvest both spring and fall planted hops and compare/contrast visual aspects of the hops, harvest yields, and acid levels that the brewers need. This data will then be used for outreach throughout the Midwest.
OUTREACH
In 2015 I shared our information primarily through social media. I have regularly utilized Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to allow others to see the progress of our project.
In 2016 we will be continuing to share our information via social media, but also through workshops and panels. I will be sitting on a hop growing panel at Purdue University. Our research will be given to Purdue, shared with other growers through the Indiana Hop Growers Association, and presented at panel discussions at Purdue workshops.