Hops
Humulus lupulus
Perennial herbaceous climbing plant grown for aromatic cones used in brewing. Suitable for Zones 4-8 with good drainage, irrigation, and disease management. Hops require a minimum of 120 frost-free days and at least 15 hours of daylight during peak growth.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are dioecious perennial bines (not vines — they climb via stiff hairs rather than tendrils) that can grow 15-25 feet per season on a trellis system. Only female plants produce the cone-shaped strobiles used in brewing. Rhizomes are planted in early spring, 2 per hill with buds pointed up, covered by 1 inch of loose soil. Plants require very well-drained soils; wet root systems can be fatal. Commercial trellis systems typically use 18-foot poles with heavy-gauge wire. First-year yields are minimal; full production begins in year 3. Plants require significant water during June-July rapid growth phase. Harvest occurs when cones feel papery and lupulin (yellow powder) is visible, typically mid-August through mid-September. Cones must be dried to 8-10% moisture within 24 hours of harvest. Major diseases include downy mildew, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt. Primary US varieties: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Willamette.
Growing Season
- Plant
- Early spring after last frost – Late spring
- Harvest
- Mid Aug - mid Sep – Mid Aug - mid Sep
- Frost-free days
- 120+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 800 lbs dry hops/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 25 years
- Years to full prod.
- 3
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (4.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (120 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (1000+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure
Storage Available
Specialized or limited storage; perishable product needs immediate handling
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Equipment Requirements
planting
Needed for cultivation, spraying, and pulling implements between hop rows.
Per-acre cost for poles, cables, and anchors. 18-ft trellis is standard; the core capital investment for hops.
Coir/sisal twine re-strung annually; specialized stringing pole (W-clip method) speeds spring stringing.
irrigation
Per-acre; essential in arid production regions. Humid regions may use drip for fertigation even if rainfall is adequate.
spraying
Tall-crop air-blast sprayer needed to reach tops of 18-ft bines. Critical for downy mildew and spider mite control.
harvesting
Stationary harvester for small-medium farms; bines are cut and fed in. Larger farms use self-propelled harvesters ($300k+).
post_harvest
Dries cones from 75-80% to 8-10% moisture at 140°F. Undried hops spoil within hours of harvest.
T-90 pellets are the brewery-preferred form; pelletizer, hammer mill, and nitrogen-flushed packaging required for commercial sales.
Hops lose alpha acids rapidly above freezing; refrigerated, low-oxygen storage is essential to preserve brewing value.
Storage Requirements
Frozen (hemp oil/kernel)
Temperature
25–32°F
Max Storage
730 days
Dried bundles/buds (airtight, dark, cool)
Temperature
32–40°F
Max Storage
365 days
Essential oil (dark glass, sealed)
Temperature
50–70°F
Max Storage
730 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($8,000/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Input costs are low to moderate
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 3 years; acceptable payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($8,000) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $10/per lb dried pelleted |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $8,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | —/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $12,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $2,000 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Significant pest/disease pressure requiring intensive management
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
High establishment risk; significant investment and years before returns
Climate Resilient
Moderate climate resilience for the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
disease
Most economically damaging hops disease. Causes spike-shaped distorted basal shoots in spring and brown angular lesions on leaves and cones, killing yield in wet seasons.
White powdery growth on leaves, bines, and cones. Severe infections render cones unsalable to brewers and reduce alpha acid content.
Soilborne fungus causing yellowing and wilt. Persistent in soil for 10+ years; can cause field abandonment in chronic infestations.
pest
Sap-sucking pest that colonizes leaves and cones; honeydew supports sooty mold that ruins cone quality. Can develop resistance to insecticides quickly.
Hot dry conditions favor explosive population growth. Stippling and bronzing of leaves, cone damage at high densities. A flagship pest in trellised hopyards.
Adults skeletonize leaves and chew cones in mid-summer. Most damaging on younger yards.
weather
Mid-summer hail can shred leaves and bruise developing cones, reducing both yield and quality. Hail-damaged cones may be rejected by aroma-focused breweries.
Mature hopyards carry several tons of biomass per acre on an 18-foot trellis. Severe windstorms can collapse poles and cables, destroying both crop and infrastructure.
market
Hops demand is concentrated in a small number of aroma varieties tied to craft beer style trends. The 2018-2024 craft brewery growth slowdown produced visible aroma-hop oversupply, depressing spot prices below cost of production for some growers.
regulatory
Many high-demand aroma cultivars (Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, etc.) are proprietary and restricted to licensed growers. Unlicensed propagation is a contractual and IP risk.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Hops against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie
58 tracked changes across 10 data categories