Hop Trellising & Budgets

Edward B. Page July 26, 2008

Season Average Price of Hops (U.S.)

$3.00

$2.50

Average price from 1991 - 2006 = $1.80

Average Price ($/lb)

$2.00

$1.50

Ave Price

$1.00

$0.50

$1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year

(source: NASS)

Traditional Hop Yard

18 to 20 high Plants 7 x 7
7.5 x 7.5 (Oregon)

Population: 888 High labor input High production

Plant Spacing 7.5 x 7.5

Tillage both ways More damage Furrowing after each weed tillage Arching: more labor Poles: 15 x 30

Center Row Removed

Larger equipment

No arching labor
Better light penetration

Conventional High Trellising

Plant Space 3.5 x 15

More light Same plant density Larger equipment Easier, cheaper cultural operations Fewer passes, less damage

Potential Vines on Ground

Root mass keeps expanding Previously root prune tilled now sprayed or just cultivated

Plant Spacing 3.5 x 12

Seeking maximum or optimum yield in wider spacing

Changing Varieties: 3.5 x 15

Yards can often be replaced in 20 years Varieties may not work as planned Open middle ground assures varietal purity

Low Trellis: 3 x8, 9.3, or 12

Labor reduction Lower cost of establishment

Tillage reduction
Higher chem. use for tillage & pruning Lower yields Ill adapted varieties

Furrow Irrigation on 7 x 7
Furrow is the traditional system Complicates other operations:
Spraying Tillage Harvest

Is less efficient Causes pollution

Oregon Humidity and Overhead Irrigation

Similar cultural issues and conflicts Mildew increased More efficient

Big Gun Irrigation for Hops

New Low Trellis w/ Sprinklers

Drip Irrigation on Low Trellis

Highest efficiency Highest cost of establishment Lowest labor cost Least pollution Least conflict with other cultural ops 9 row spacing is minimum

Drip Irrigation Infrastructure

Settling pond/tank Sand filtration High management and knowledge

Over Irrigation

Yellowing indicates over irrigation

Heavy soil can mean drainage problems

High Trellis Construction

21 posts 2 to 3 in ground Various spacings 14 x 42 15x 30 30 x 30 Equilateral triangle 15 base Poles connected with rows only

Top training wire is free floating

Hop Growth on High Trellis

Coir twine is tied to clip placed in soil next to hill Twine is tied to top wire Hop vine winds its way to top Harvesting cuts top and bottom and removes to process

Metal Plates to Preserve Post

Post Protection Plate

Steel Anchor Embedded in Concrete

Wire Clamp for Anchor Wire

Clamping Cables

Corner End with Triple Anchors

Low Trellis Construction

Equilateral triangle Somewhat lighter 16 gage top high tensile wire 12 gage bottom 3 x 9 plant spacing 1613 plants per acre

Top Wire on Low Trellis

Top wire at 10 Mesh netting at 10

Bottom Wire on Low Trellis

Bottom wire 12 up Bottom of netting Carries drip tubing Attached with compression clamp

End Bracing on Low Trellis

New Planting in Washington

600-800 acres of new low trellis in Washington Oregon & Idaho plantings unknown

Early Regrowth on 10 Trellis

Early Growth with Chem Burn

Plastic Mesh Netting

12 Mesh spans 9 UV protected, has a 10 year life Reinforced by plant vines Vine removal is contemplated
Equipment is now in design stage

Vines Climb Each Vertical Strand

The vine learned to save you $1000 per acre

Multiple Vines per Vertical Strand

3-4 vines per strand by 2nd year Vines and some arms remain after stripping process Previous vines support current crop

Early Growth in Yakima

Zeus and Willamette Comparison

Growth habits differ
Willamette is early and flowers on top Zeus is later and flowers uniformly

Note yield and income differences Research is now on to find dwarf hops

Standard Trellis Establishment on 4 Acres

Rhizomes Potting Soil Pots (6 square) 5000 4160 $ 5,040.00 750.00 2,300.00

Misc. Hardware & Supplies

Poles (21 untreated, lodge pole pine) D5 Dozer Work Bob Cat & Auger (holes for poles) 7-Strand Wire (carries hop wires) #9 Wire (floating top wire) Hop Twine (coir: coconut husk fiber) 48 Ground Anchors Drip Irrigation Materials 188 210

5,026.00
4,280.00 2,400.00 2,150.00 3,146.00 997.00 556.00 1,580.00 5,980.00

30 hrs. Tilling
40 hrs. Pole Setting Gallows (for work on top wires) Labor

1,200.00
1,600.00 556.00 15,000.00

Total Establishment Cost

$52,561.00

Establishment Cost per Acre

$13,140.00
Data Courtesy of Glen Fuller

Low Trellis Establishment Cost

LOW TRELLIS ESTABLISHMENT COST PER ACRE (9') Item Poles Top cable Bottom wire Top staple Cable clamps Anchors Netting TOTAL MATERIALS Ground prep Potted plants Irrigation Fuel Labor TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT COST PER ACRE $.065 / plant / 1614 pots per acre 5000 ft 5000 ft 175 (top) 162 (bottom) 15 $20 (steel, cable, concrete, labor)- 4.5/acre 4840 ft Comment 162 at $8.80/pole Cost/Acre $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 1,426 375 100 16 5 90 980 2,992 125 1,050 1,000 20 823 6,010

Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

Annual Low Trellis Growing Cost

Low Trellis Growing Costs 2006 953 300 174 21 24 80 28 1,580 2007 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 60 300 111 30 154 51 28 734 Standard

Ground Work Training/Weeding Down Vines Harvest Bug Spray Fungicide Foliar Fertilizer Broken Wires Other Total Difference (Std-07): % Difference:

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

$ $

1,700 966 57%

Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

LOW TRELLIS HOP YIELD YEAR 1

VARIETY Willamette Cascade Galena CTZ Nugget

Difference #/AC 8 FT #/AC 9.3 FT #/AC 12 FT 8'-9' 265 315 160 -50 1327 1124 203 1206 1144 694 62 1825 1659 166 980 893 87

Note: 12 CTZ and Nugget were not harvested due to timing and lack of growth.

Year 1 Low Trellis Baby Crop Yields By Variety and Spacing

2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Willamette Cascade Galena Variety
Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

Yield (lb/acre)

#/AC 8 FT #/AC 9.3 FT #/AC 12 FT

CTZ

Nugget

LOW TRELLIS HOP YIELD YEAR 2

VARIETY Willamette Cascade Galena CTZ Nugget Difference #/AC 8 FT #/AC 9.3 FT #/AC 12 FT 8'-9' 600 600 400 0 1520 1280 1020 240 1360 1040 -1360 2298 2043 1532 255 760 760

Note: 8 Galena was not harvested due to machine breakdown.

9.3, 12 Nugget were not harvested due to timing.

Year 2 Low Trellis Crop Yields By Variety and Spacing

2500 2000

Yield (lb/acre)

1500 1000 500 0 Willamette Cascade Galena Variety CTZ Nugget

#/AC 8 FT #/AC 9.3 FT #/AC 12 FT

Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

LOW TRELLIS HOP YIELD YEAR 2

VARIETY Willamette Cascade Galena CTZ Nugget #/AC 8 FT 600 1520 2298 760 #/AC 9.3 FT 600 1280 1360 2043 #/AC 12 FT 400 1020 1040 1532 Standard 1318 2031 1776 2712 1909 Assumptions: Total Costs (Conv.): $ Variable Costs Savings: $ Total Costs (LT): $

4,000 966 3,034

LOW TRELLIS COST PER UNIT (GROWING COSTS)

#/AC 9.3 FT $ 1.22 $ 0.57 $ 0.54 $ 0.36 Difference % Difference (8'(Growing Standard) Costs) $ (0.07) -5% $ (0.35) -42% $ (0.42) -44% $ (0.31) -49% $ 0.08 8%

VARIETY Willamette Cascade Galena CTZ Nugget

#/AC 8 FT $ 1.22 $ 0.48 $ $ 0.32 0.97

#/AC $ $ $ $

12 FT 1.84 0.72 0.71 0.48

Standard $ 1.29 $ 0.84 $ 0.96 $ 0.63 $ 0.89

LOW TRELLIS COST PER UNIT (TOTAL COSTS)

#/AC 9.3 FT $ 5.06 $ 2.37 $ 2.23 $ 1.49 Difference % Difference (8'(Growing Standard) Costs) $ 2.02 67% $ 0.03 1% $ (0.02) -1% $ (0.15) -10% $ 1.90 91%

VARIETY Willamette Cascade Galena CTZ Nugget

#/AC 8 FT $ 5.06 $ 2.00 $ $ 1.32 3.99

#/AC $ $ $ $

12 FT 7.59 2.97 2.92 1.98

Standard $ 3.03 $ 1.97 $ 2.25 $ 1.47 $ 2.10

Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

Grow ing Costs Unit Production (per lb)

$2.00 $1.80 $1.60 $1.40

Cost per lb of Hops

$1.20 $1.00 $0.80 $0.60 $0.40 $0.20 $Willamette Cascade Galena Variety
Data Courtesy of Roy Farms/Jason Perrault

#/AC 8 FT #/AC 9.3 FT #/AC 12 FT Standard

CTZ

Nugget

Season Average Price of Hops (U.S.)

$3.00

$2.50

Average price from 1991 - 2006 = $1.80

Average Price ($/lb)

$2.00

$1.50

Ave Price

$1.00

$0.50

$1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year

(source: NASS)

Thank You
Questions?

Furrow Irrigation

Flowering Hops

First Year Planting: Yakima