Abstract

Until now, commercial hop (Humulus lupulus L.) production has not occurred in the northeast (NE) region of the United States for 150 years. A combination of the spread of hop downy mildew, the expansion of production in western states, and prohibition laws from the 1920’s contributed to the decline of the 19th century NE hop industry. Today, the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho remain the dominant hop production sites of the U.S. However, hop production in non-traditional regions is growing and now accounts for over 2% of the total U.S. hop acreage. Nationally, there has been recent and unprecedented growth in the craft beer sector which has dramatically increased demand for local hop production.

This project looks to assess the impact of manure applications on soil health and hop yields and attempts to quantify the impact of organic amendments on soil health and hop essential oil and resin profiles. This trial used manure amendments in plots to compare manure application rate impact on soil health and microbial activity within plots. Many farmers in Vermont, and other dairy production regions, have access to manure as a soil amendment and nutrient source. Farmers have claimed that applying manure has aided in reducing disease pressure and improving soil quality, making this a potentially valuable resource that would be beneficial to some farmers.

Keywords

Vermont, University of Vermont, hop, hop soil health

Publication Date

2019

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