Germany has reduced its hop acreage by 340 hectares (ha), a 1.6% reduction, bringing the total to 20,289 ha, Barth-Haas reported today in its newest crop report. High alpha varieties such as Herkules, Titan, and Polaris have increased, while aroma varieties like Perle and Hallertau Tradition have declined significantly. The changes reflect an adaptation to the changing climate and a focus on varieties that offer better yields under current conditions.
Warmer temperatures and higher precipitation levels than the 10-year average were recorded from October to March. Despite fluctuating spring weather, hop development remains ahead of schedule, although disease susceptibility has increased.
In the Czech Republic, hop acreage decreased by 21 ha to 4,852 ha, with the Saaz variety reducing by 76 ha due to previous heat and drought.
In Slovenia, acreage decreased by 35 ha to 1,641 ha, with Aurora variety cutbacks and a slight increase in the Celeia variety. Both regions experienced climate-related challenges and shifts towards more resilient varieties.
The USA reported a significant decline in hop acreage, down by 3,956 ha to 18,026 ha, due to an oversupply of aroma hops and a reduction in high alpha varieties. This marks an 18% decrease in total hop acreage.
Overall, global hop acreage fell by approximately 4,600 ha to about 56,050 ha, an 8% reduction. These adjustments reflect broader industry trends in response to climate change and economic factors.
For further details, see the full Barth-Haas press release.
