Ontario Hop Growers' Association The OHGA is a not-for-profit association of hop growers, families and enthusiasts who are interested in supporting the growth of the hop industry in Ontario.
Calling all OHGA members,
All Ontario hop growers are invited to participate in one of two hop research and service priority setting workshops.
The sessions will focus on brainstorming research and service priorities to provide direction on future activities related to the development of the Ontario hop industry.
The workshops will be held via conference call and WebEx.
Please RSVP to the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) ( Tel: 1.877.424.1300 or by email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca) for one of the two dates listed below:
- Sat., November 29, 9am-11am
OR
- Wed., December 3, 7pm-9pm
Upon registration, you will receive two documents to assist with the meetings: a) outline of priority setting process and example of a priority document; and b) a research and service priority form to get you thinking about the issues that matter the most to you. For more information, go here: http://onspecialtycrops.wordpress.com/2014/11/13/calling-all-hop-growers-for-priority-setting-workshops/
Please complete the Research and Service Priority Form and return to Evan Elford (evan.elford@ontario.ca) prior to your scheduled workshop.
Your OHGA executive met with Evan in October to discuss priorities – a summary list here:
| Title | Description |
| 2014 | |
| Testing Programs / Lab facilities | Work with Ontario facility to set up test lab facilities in Ontario to offer affordable Alpha, Beta, HIS & key essential oils.Alpha & Beta acids & Hop Storage Index (HSI) Key essential oils. Alpha Acids Humulone, ad-humulone, co-humulone Beta Acids Lupulone, ad-lupulone, co-lupuloneCOMMENTS: availability of affordable testing faclities, lays the ground work for other research projects in Ontario around aroma/bitterness peaks of Ontaril grown hops, to identyify and create benchmarks for Ontario grown hops to compare against hops grown in other hop growing resons of North Ameria and Europe. From this project, as a nucleus, we can see the many contributing projects that can be generated. Some examples are:-fertility programs and it’s effects on hop chemistry -weather patterns and it’s effects on IPM contributing to hop chemistry -varietal efficiencies in the differing soil types to assist growers in the selection process -determining quality perimeters to advance a support protocol for growers to include agronomic services during the growing season -post harvest handling and it’s effects on hop chemistry |
| 2015 | |
| Integrated Pest Management – Ontario specific | Aggregate and document pest, disease and weed control issues and control strategies specific to the Ontario industry (including photo identification)-pest, disease and weed control issues and strategies specific to the Ontario industry;-create database of Ontario pests, diseases and issues along with IPM strategies to treat (include photo identification) make available on web and app***Creation of calendar for applications/treatments with rotations of strategies*** …all put together for organic and/or conventional… Lots of research out there…but must be put together. ***Field measurement techniques – developing “quick and dirty” methods to approximate fertility, mositure content, alpha acids and checking for viruses (not sure any of this is possible) |
| Hops production calendar & database | Ontario Specific – expand on IPM idea above, but include nutrient management, water management and combine into a single database and calendar and push to print, web (desktop & mobile phone) and app (iOS & Android).Need University or College to assist with the collection of current information available and create a calendar & database of Ontario specific key events during the hop growing cycle in terms of disease or pest emergence, fertilizer applications, water nutrient requirements, burr and cone development and harvest dates by variety.Integrated Pest Management – document Ontario specific pests, disease and weed issues along with IPM strategies to treat, in conjunction with approved products under the Ontario Minor Use Program (include photo identification) make available on web and appIntegrated Nutrient & Water Management – based on fertilizer type,Organici & Conventional strategies.Packaged together for distribution in a number of formats: print, web (desktop and mobile phone) and native apps (iOS & Android). |
| Testing Program – aroma/bitterness peaks | Project 1 – Ontario hop Aroma/bittering peak testing projectArea: Horticultural Studies Industry Partner: Ontario Hop Growers’ AssociationObjective: collaboration between the Ontario Hop Growers’ Association (OHGA) and Niagara College to identify benchmarks when Ontario-grown hops are at their peak for aroma and bitterness characteristics. The goal of the testing program would be to attempt to identify when selected test varieties reach their peak in terms of aroma /bitterness characteristics, before starting to decline. Aroma and bitterness characteristics peak at different times.Methodology: identify 5-10 key commercial hop varieties, and test 3-4 times during the 2015 fall hop harvest, from hop samples take from a cross section of Ontario hop farms.Test would be done of selected aroma and bittering hops (use varieties identified by the Ontario Craft Brewers Association as a starting point, as having commercial potential in 2014). Attempts would also be made to identify and document the impacts of “soil type” on the alpha, beta % outcomes, along with other key essential oils identified as having an outcome on aroma and taste characteristics.Included metrics: – Hop samples would be collected and submitted for testing 3-4 times during the harvest season, based on reported optimum harvest times by variety in adjacent growing regions. – Testing regime would ideally begin in mid August and continue thru to third week of September. – Hop samples take from farms with a cross-section of soil types – Hop samples would only be taken of mature plants (3+ years) in a effort to get a true picture of alpha, beta and essential oil characteristics. – 5-7 key aroma hops as identified by OCB (2014) as a starting point – 3-5 key bittering hops as identified by OCB (2014) as a starting point – Samples would be tested for Alpha & Beta acids & Hop Storage Index (HSI) and select key essential oils. – Alpha Acids (humulone, ad-humulone, co-humulone) – Beta Acids (Lupulone, ad-lupulone, co-lupulone)Over time, we would like to try and define the characteristics of hops grown in different soil types (sandy loam, clay etc). All useful information for the brewers when they are trying to obtain certain aroma/flavour profiles and for the growers in terms of identifying whether their land is a suitable place to grow hops. |
| Small-medium Scale Drying Systems | Creation/innovation/fabrication of Ontario drying system for small hop yards <5ac or <10ac, and commercialization of same. |
| Commercial Potential – Ontario Hop Varieties | Project 2 – Establish which Ontario grown hop varieties have the greatest commercial potential – based on yield, aroma/bittering profiles, lowest pest and disease susceptibility & profit potential (based on currently sought varieties – OCB survey). Used to help growers decide which hops to plant at start up. |
| Business Development – Hop Specific | Contracts (templates for grower/brewer agreements) Business plans and financials (Templates and spreadsheets to help accurately forecast and keep track of hop related financials) |
If you are interested in getting active, OHGA needs volunteers to sit on the Research and Development Committee to get some of these initiatives into the project stage.
Call Hugh Brown for more details at (705) 734-2846 or email me at vp@ohga.ca
