1.5% of the Portuguese GDP are accounted by beer exports, The Portuguese Association of Brewing companies (APCV) recently reported. This figure ranks Portugal the seventh beer exporter by volume in the European Union.

Exports are evaluated to EUR 131 million (US$ 165.64 million). Imports are way less than exports, totalling EUR 11.9 million (US$ 15.05 million). The sector contributes annually EUR 874 million (US$ 1.11 million) as tax payer.

With the growing trend for increased sowing of Hamelin malt barley in Western Australia, growers can be confident that Hamelin is not sensitive to metribuzin herbicide under normal environmental conditions, the Department of Agriculture and Food informed May 23.

Department of Agriculture and Food Research Officer Dr Harmohinder Dhammu has reported that research from small plot trials at two wheatbelt locations from 2002 to 2004, has conclusively shown that trial rates of 112g a.i./ha of metribuzin, applied before sowing with trifluralin at 400 g a.i./ha, did not affect the grain yield of Hamelin or any of the other commonly grown malt barley varieties Stirling, Gairdner or Baudin.

“The only environmental factors that would make Hamelin, as well any of the other varieties, sensitive to metribuzin is where the chemical is concentrated into the seed slot by furrow filling due to heavy rainfall before crop emergence or the paddock is under waterlogged conditions,” Dr Dhammu said.

Hop production for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in 2005 totaled 52.9 million pounds (24.045 thousand metric t), down 4 percent from the 2004 crop of 55.2 million pounds (25.1 thousand metric t), and 3 percent below the 2003 production of 54.6 million pounds (24.8 thousand metric t), the U.S. Department of Agriculture released in a National Hop Report.

Idaho's 2005 production increased 4 percent. Production in Washington and Oregon dropped 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

Acreage increased in all three states in 2005. Washington showed a 9 percent acreage increased. Idaho and Oregon were both up 1 percent. Yields declined in Washington to 1,871 pounds per acre, and in Oregon to 1,560 pounds per acre. Idaho yields averaged 1,640 pounds per acre, 52 pounds more than a year ago.

Washington growers produced 75 percent of the U.S. hop crop for 2005. Zeus, Columbus/Tomahawk, Galena, and Willamette were the leading varieties in Washington, accounting for 70 percent of the State's hop crop. In Oregon, Willamette and Nugget were the major varieties, accounting for 74 percent of the hops harvested.