Average Hop Harvest To Affect German Beer Production
Despite frost, lack of June rain, and spider mite infestation, production is expected to be average due to increase in growing area
Germany is a nation famous for its prowess in mechanical engineering along with its world famous beer production. It was almost a nightmarish thought for beer lovers of the world when lack of rain and excess frost covered Germany, but there are positive indications from US department of agriculture. Despite frost, lack of June rain, and spider mite infestation, production is expected to be average due to increase in growing area. At the end of August, German production was forecasted at 39,224 MT, an eight percent decrease compared to the record crop of 2016.
On the 31st August 2017, Helmut Brunner, the Bavarian minister of agriculture, Johann Pichlmaier, president of the German Hop Growers’ Association (Verband Deutscher Hopfenpflanzer e.V.), and Peter Hintermeier, Chairman of the German Hop Traders Association (Hopfen Wirtschaftsver band) presented the official German harvest forecast for 2017 at the occasion of the annual “hops tour”. Production prospects for the 2017 harvest are eight percent below 2016’s record crop, despite an increase in hops area of five per cent. This is a consequence of April frosts, lack of rain (particularly in June), and spider mite infestation. However, good rains in late July prevented a further decrease. The exterior quality is expected to be good. Alpha acid contents (inner quality) cannot be assessed, yet.
While the forecasted production represents an “about average” level, Pichlmaier pointed out that the share of production that is already contracted is at a record high. As a result, prices for the remaining hops on the spot market are likely to rise, unless final production is considerably higher than forecast. Hintermeier stressed that while the hops market is tight, German beer production is not in danger and his members should be able to deliver the amounts requested by the breweries.
Foreign Agriculture Service of US department of agriculture (Berlin based) on data from German Hop Growers’ Association has stated that the majority (86 per cent) of the German hops area is located in Bavaria. The traditional “hops tour” (Hopfenrundfahrt) is an annual event. In even years, it is organized by the German Hop Growers Association, in uneven years, the organization alternates between the three Bavarian counties with the most hops area (Freising, Kehlheim, and Pfaffenhofen). The event was attended by over 180 participants, many of which hold influential political positions in Bavaria.
(Source: USDA GAIN report)