USA: More than 100 members of Congress ask the federal government for bigger hop research commitment

More than 100 members of Congress are asking the federal government to increase its commitment to research related to growing hops, AP reported on December 1.

The lawmakers say the brewing industry generated more than $250 billion in economic activity in 2014.

Yakima Valley Hops and Brew Supply owner John Snyder said that the hop industry was kind of a hidden giant up until it started to generate billions of dollars.

With most of the nation’s hops being grown in the Yakima Valley he hopes that government doesn’t get involved just to add more regulations and gain revenue.

"If the state wants to get more involved in hop production that's great I mean if that means more money to our public breeding program that's amazing, if their saying mites and they want something that's more pest resistant and higher yields, naturally that's what a farmer wants anyway," said John Snyder.

According to the Washington Beer Commission the Yakima Valley contains approximately 75-percent of the total hop acreage in the U.S. with an average farm size of 450-acres.

"Now with all this big publicity that we're getting we're starting to see more agencies turning their head and saying oh wait we need more regulation, we need to step in here," said John Snyder.

Lawmakers said developing new hop varieties that are pest-resistant and climate-tolerant will help growers increase yields while reducing pesticide use.

Adding that growers face several challenges such as mites, mildews and other pests that harm production.

"Getting lawmakers or the state more heavily involved especially lawmakers that might not have an idea of what's going on agriculturally is that they could create a regulation that doesn't really make sense and then it takes a long time to knock that down or get around it," said John Snyder.

Snyder said that if the government’s research moves forward, it will help fund the public hops breeding program in hopes of producing better and higher yields.

He will welcome them with open arms to help feed the beast of the beer industry.

02 December, 2016