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Hop Growers Navigate Water Shortages, Heat, and Pests in the Yakima Valley


hop field in yakima valley at cls farms
Some varieties fared much better than others this year as growers in the Yakima Valley faced issues with drought, heat, and pests. Our Willamette field looks especially strong this year.

At CLS Farms, the moment we’ve spent the last few months preparing for is finally here – the 2024 hop harvest. We’ve spent the last few months preparing by fighting drought, mitigating pest issues, and continuously standing in awe of Mother Nature’s plan for this growing season.


In the last two years, the hop industry has faced serious challenges with inventory levels rising, beer volumes decreasing, and the constant environmental threats of drought, wildfires, and other unexpected issues – like a summer thunderstorm making its way through the Pacific Northwest just as fields reach their heaviest point. 


This year, the industry will see less hop acreage harvested with total acreage levels back to what they were in 2015. Overall, an estimated 44,543 acres are expected to be harvested, down 18 percent from last year’s total of 54,318 acres. 


Each year is a challenge for different reasons, but one that growers continue to face head-on and ensure the highest quality hops make it into brewers’ hands. Read through the Water, Heat, and Varieties sections for a look into how this growing season turned out and what will come in the next few weeks.


Water


CLS Farms, along with other growers in the Yakima Valley, faced severely lower water levels this season due to the El Niño winter, resulting in a smaller snow pack than normal. Hop acreage along with hundreds of other farms pulling from the Roza canal experienced 55% of the typical water supply. 


What did this look like in reality? The Irrigation District scheduled periodic shut-offs to preserve the reservoirs. These shut-offs can result in several days of disruption and lack of water to the plants. 


Varieties with Neomexicanus heritage fared better, like Sabro, Zappa, Comet, and Talus. Other varieties with strong tolerance to drought include Vista, El Dorado, and Elani. Overall, the impact on the hops appears to show certain varieties will have lower yields than average while others will harvest relatively normal.


Oddly enough, water levels for this year were reminiscent of the 2015 drought experienced in the Yakima Valley. Both hop acreage and beer volumes are also at similar levels to what they were nine years ago. Is history repeating itself?


Heat 


The Yakima Valley experienced a cold June followed by intense heat in July. Several days of 100-plus degrees Fahrenheit certainly impacted some varieties, but others took it much better. Brewer’s Gold, for example, battled the heat strongly despite being only in its second growing year. 


Last year, an early heat spell came through the Yakima Valley, which caused issues with split bloom. However, because the heat came later this year, we don’t see any impact of split bloom on any of the varieties.


The heat rapidly increased mite pressure across the Valley. In the wake of an ever-changing MRL (maximum residue levels) situation in the EU among other countries, growers have worked closely with scouters to develop a strategy to mitigate pest pressure and maintain compliance with MRL standards. 


Day in and day out, tractor drivers and sprayers across hop farms in the Valley would begin spraying at night and go into the early morning to avoid the daytime temperatures that are unsafe for drivers to spray in.


Varieties


We expect certain varieties to harvest later than normal while others will likely harvest earlier. Centennial, for example, will harvest much later than last year with ideal maturity beginning Aug. 28. However, growers face processing constraints and likely will start earlier to ensure other varieties maturing more quickly do not over-ripen. 


At CLS Farms and throughout the Valley, we anticipate a higher-than-average Centennial crop this year, with harvest beginning later than usual, and do not foresee any issues with yield or quality. 


Cascade and El Dorado look like they’re maturing quicker than in years prior, pushing up against the middle section of harvest and putting pressure on capacity, likely when other varieties like Citra might also be ready. 


A large number of old Cascade acreage in the Valley was converted to virus-free baby plantings, so take note that this variety might see a lack of intensity from premature harvesting as we’ve seen that VF plantings often need additional time to reach peak maturity. You can read more about the nuance of virus vs. virus-free Cascade and the implications on yield and aroma in our article from several months ago.


Overall, the industry has faced challenges this growing season with water issues, mite pressure, and heat spells, while remaining resilient throughout the year. Despite the challenges, CLS Farms remains committed to delivering the highest quality hops to brewers worldwide. 


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