Breaking Grounds in Hops Cultivation in Indiana.

Rapid growth in the craft brewing industry and rising interest in the use of locally sourced ingredients has created an opportunity for hop production in areas outside of the Pacific Northwest where hops are predominantly grown. In Indiana, there are currently more than 120 microbreweries. Growers have started installing hop yards, though this crop has not been commercially grown in the state for over a century and there are currently no recommendations to guide growers in best management practices. The Boiler Hop Yard was established in 2014 to help Indiana hop growers identify varieties and management practices that optimize productivity and profitability. The hop yard includes a dwarf trellis as well as a tall trellis system, with six varieties replicated in each. Economic and agronomic data is collected annually, including establishment and maintenance costs, pest incidence and severity, and yield and end-use quality (alpha and beta acids, as well as oil profiles). During the summer months, high temperatures paired with abundant rainfall and high relative humidity create ideal conditions for high pathogen pressure. Downy mildew, caused by the oomycete pathogen Pseudoperonospora humuli, is one of the biggest threats to Indiana hop production.  Results to date indicate that varieties with greater resistance to downy mildew, such as Cascade and Chinook, can be grown successfully in Indiana, and are high in demand by local craft brewers. The initial investment of implementing a hop yard is high, but there is potential for growing hops profitably in Indiana.