Growing Hops in Northern Michigan

The Record-Eagle reports on a new crop in town in Hop to it: Local crop makes a splash in beer.

For the past two years, hops crops have been popping up all over northern Michigan. Hops, which are used as a bittering agent in beer, have been cultivated and brewed since the 11th century.

Now local microbreweries are looking to local farmers to grow the plant.

"Back in 2007, there was a worldwide shortage in hops and the big mega breweries had long-term contracts where the majority of hops production was locked up with them," said Rob Sirrine, an agriculture and natural resources educator with MSU Extension. "When there was a shortage, (mega breweries) got their hops but everyone else had to scramble."

A mad dash for microbreweries to supply themselves with hops had farmers seeing prices rising from about $2 a pound to more than $25 a pound. MSU Extension held a seminar for farmers, teaching them how to grow hops.

Since then, more than 10 local farmers have diversified their crops with hops and are adding to a booming local microbrew industry.

Filed under Farming