Division pours brewer interest into Aug. 15 hops workshop
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Hops workshop to be held at Fruit Research Station in Clarksville
- Workshop to showcase research of varieties, pest management
- Info: 501-671-2237, or https://bit.ly/ARFNVU.
- Registration deadline is Aug. 13.
(305 words)
(Newsrooms – with art https://flic.kr/p/2gFYzXR)
LITTLE ROCK – An explosion in craft brewing in Arkansas has raised interest in hops, a crop whose commercial potential is being evaluated by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
More than 80 varieties of hops are grown commercially, with even more in evaluation trials. However, research is needed to find just the right hops for Arkansas brewers.
“With the Arkansas craft beer brewing industry quadrupling in recent years, local breweries are in constant need of hops as a main ingredient in their beer,” said Amanda McWhirt, commercial horticulture crop specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We are working to find the right hops and the right hop-growing techniques to enable Arkansas brewers to use locally sourced hops.”
McWhirt is part of the Division of Agriculture’s three-member hops research team, which includes Jackie Lee, director of the Fruit Research Station at Clarksville and Renee Threlfall, a research scientist in food science.
What the trio has discovered so far in their research will be on display Aug. 15 during Arkansas’ first Hops Workshop to be held at the Fruit Research Station, 1749 Arkansas Highway 818.
The workshop begins at 2 p.m. and runs to 7 p.m. There’s a $20 early bird registration fee with an Aug. 13 registration deadline. After Aug. 13, the fee is $30. Register online at https://uada.formstack.com/forms/hops.
The agenda will include varietal research and production strategies including trellising options and pruning dates as well as a grower panel discussion with Larry Galligan, Riverside Specialty Farms; Ronnie Ledford, River Valley Hops; and Brother Basil of the Subiaco Monastery.
“We will be showing six different varieties’ growth and development,” McWhirt said. “We do see some big differences in vigor between varieties.”
Attendees will also learn about how different pruning dates affect bine growth, how hops plants are trained and harvested.
For more information on the workshop, contact Amanda Gonia at 501-671-2237 or visit https://bit.ly/ARFNVU.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the station at 501-671-2229 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
By Mary Hightower
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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