By Tracy Turner
Growers and others interested in learning more about the Ohio hops research at The Ohio State University can attend tours of its hop fields in both Piketon and Wooster.
The “Hops Production to Enhance Economic Opportunities for Farmers and Brewers” project is offering early stage growers, advanced growers and anyone else interested in hops production an opportunity to tour the hop research trials.
The trials are taking place at 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 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 is also a part of the college.
The tours will feature basic information on the ins and outs of hops production, including trellis construction, drip irrigation and how to evaluate which variety of hops growers are interested in producing, McGlothin said.
The tours will also feature discussions on hop yard construction, establishment cost, bine training, irrigation, variety selection and fertilization.
The hops tours are from 10 a.m. to noon on first Fridays of May, June, September, October and November, she said.
Participants will get to see an overview of the research conducted at the center and a tour of the Piketon facilities. The Wooster tours will also be offered at the OARDC Horticultural Research Unit 2, 5082 Oil City Road. The Wooster tours are hosted by Mary Gardiner, an Ohio State entomologist and led by Chelsea Smith, an Ohio State entomology research assistant. The South Centers tours are hosted by Brad Bergefurd, an Ohio State Extension Educator, and assisted by Thom Harker, an Ohio State horticulture research assistant.
Interested parties must register by the Wednesday before the tour by contacting McGlothin at 740-289-2071, ext. 132, or mcglothin.4@osu.edu. Registration is $15 per family or farm.