Hop Productions Advances 7%

WASHINGTON - Aug 11/06 - SNS -- Hop production in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington is forecast at 56.8 million pounds for 2006, up 7% from last year and 3% more than the 2004 crop, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area strung for harvest, at 28,928 acres, is 2% less than 2005 but 4% above the acreage strung for harvest two years ago. Yield is estimated at 1,965 pounds per acre for the Pacific Northwest, 169 pounds more than 2005 but 25 pounds less than 2004.

Washington's yield is forecast at 2,060 pounds per acre for the 2006 crop, 182 pounds more than last year. Oregon's yield is forecast at 1,750 pounds per acre, up 190 pounds from 2005. In Idaho, yields are expected to average 1,630 pounds per acre, 10 pounds lower than a year ago. Washington and Oregon are forecasting increases in total production from the 2005 crop, while Idaho's production, at 4,526,500 pounds, is down 864,400 pounds from a year ago.

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