More Opportunities to Take Hops Production Tours

PIKETON, Ohio — Next Wednesday is the deadline for growers and others interested in learning more about hops research at The Ohio State University to register to attend the June 5 tours of hop fields in Piketon and Wooster, organizers said.

The Hop Production to Enhance Economic Opportunities for Farmers and Brewers project offers tours of its hop research trials at the Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon and at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster.

Participants can learn basic information on how to get started in hops production as well as what resources may be available to help growers, said Charissa McGlothin, program assistant with the South Centers.

OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The OSU South Centers are also part of the college.

The tours includes basic information on the ins and outs of hops production, including:

·      Trellis construction.

·      Drip irrigation.

·      How to evaluate hop varieties.

·      Hop yard construction.

·      Establishment cost.

·      Bine training.

·      Irrigation.

·      Variety selection.

·      Fertilization.

The hops tours are from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Friday of the month in June, September, October and November, McGlothin said.

Participants will see an overview of the research conducted at the South Centers and will the Piketon facilities. The Wooster tours will be offered at OARDC’s Horticultural Research Unit 2, 5082 Oil City Road. They will be hosted by Mary Gardiner, a CFAES entomologist, and will be led by Chelsea Smith, an entomology research assistant with the college. The South Centers tours will be hosted by Brad Bergefurd, an OSU Extension educator, and will be assisted by Thom Harker, a CFAES horticulture research assistant.

Interested parties must register by calling McGlothin at 740-289-2071, ext. 132, or by emailing her at mcglothin.4@osu.edu. Registration is $15 per family or farm. The deadline to register is the Wednesday before the first Friday of the month.