Hop production up 11 percent last year, and seven other factoids from the 2021 National Hop Report

More hops, please. In June, we noted demand for one of beer’s most dynamic ingredients was continuing to dramatically increase. The June Hop Acreage Strung for Harvest, 2021 report released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service noted hop acreage was at a record high of 60,000+ acres, 4 percent more than last year’s previous record of 58,641 acres. The result…

Production for the Pacific Northwest totaled a record high of 116 million lbs in 2021, up 11 percent from the 2020 crop of 104 million lbs. In late December, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2021 National Hop Report with data only attributed to the three Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon — where the vast majority of hop production in America is based. The report confirmed everything we expected. Hop production continues to grow. Enjoy these eight factoids from the report:

1. Production for the Pacific Northwest totaled a record high of 15.6 million lbs, up 11 percent from the 2020 crop of 104 million lbs.
2. Combined area harvested for Idaho, Oregon and Washington in 2021 totaled a record high 60,872 acres, up 4 percent from the 2020 level of 58,641 acres. Harvested acreage increased in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
3. The United States hop yield, at 1,900 lbs per acre, is up 130 lbs from a year ago.
4. Washington produced 73 percent of the United States hop crop for 2021, while Idaho accounted for 16 percent and Oregon accounted for 11 percent.
5. In Washington, Citra, Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus, Mosaic, Simcoe and Pahto were the five leading varieties, accounting for 53 percent of the state’s hop production.
6. In Idaho, Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus, Mosaic, Citra, Idaho 7 and El Dorado were the major varieties, accounting for 63 percent of the state’s hop production.
7. In Oregon, Citra, Mosaic, Strata, Nugget and Cascade were the major varieties, accounting for 61 percent of the state’s hop production.
8. The 2021 value of production for the United States totaled $662 million, up 7 percent from the previous year.

Now, enjoy some hop stories from our archives:

Harvest Fresh: Blue Lake frozen hops give brewers crisp, whole cone hops year-around

Sober up: The nascent Michigan hop industry won’t survive without your help

Yakima Chief Hops launches Bigger Than Beer podcast, its first series is dedicated to women

NZ Hops and Charles Faram announce partnership for sales and distribution of New Zealand hops in North America

Five takeaways from the BarthHaas Hop Report for June 2021

U.S. hop acreage reaches record high, breaking 60,000 acres

Hop Products Australia reports total yield is down, but Galaxy grows for 11th straight year

RipeLocker can extend the life of fresh hops by six weeks

Scientists are sequencing the hop genome and discovering some medical potential