Czech Republic: Hop production down in 2006

Czech hop growers produced 5453,4 t of hops in 2006, according to Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic, December 14.

The average yield for 2006 was 1,01 t/ha. The total production was 30,4 % down from 2005 and 13,6 % down compared to 2004.

The total production in the main growing region of Saaz reached 3645,5 t of hops, the highest yields were recorded in the Moravian Tirschitz region with 1,54 t/ha.
Saaz, the main Czech variety, accounted for 86,5 % of the Czech hop production with average yield of 0,96 t/ha and total production of 4717,9 t.

Saaz hop growing region produced 3181,6 t of Saaz variety, Auscha hop region 682 t, and Tirschitz hop region 854,3 t of Saaz.

The main reason for the lower crop in the Saaz hop growing region were the damages after two hail storms in May and June. The crop in all areas and especially the alpha content was influenced by the tropical weather in July.

Lower crop than in previous years was recorded with the new Czech varieties Sladek and Premiant, where yields were also largely affected by hail storms in May.
The acreage of varieties Sladek, Premiant and Agnus is increasing year by year thanks to demand in the Czech breweries but also in many breweries worldwide.
The contents of alpha bitter acids in the early varieties, mainly in Saaz was well under average with approx. 2 %. The contents of alpha in Premiant was also lower than average with 6,5 %. On the other hand the later varieties, eg. Sladek reached normal alpha level with 6 %.
Costs of growing continue to rise

It’s estimated that there will be a rise in prices of hops especially aroma hop varieties. This is affected by the continuously increasing costs of hop growing due to the rising costs of energy, fuel, fertilizers and labour. The rising costs are also the main reason for the declining hop acreage, especially the Saaz variety, in the Czech Republic. The economics of hop growing in the Czech Republic are also largely affected by the development of CZK/EUR exchange rate.

Czech Republic - The home of the worlds’ finest aroma hops

Czech Republic with the Saaz variety is the largest producer of fine aroma hops in the world.

Apart from this main variety there is a successful production of new Czech varieties based in their breeding on Saaz hops. Sladek and Premiant are already well established in breweries, Agnus also shows very promising results. Recently registered was a new aroma variety Harmonie.

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