The Yakima, Willamette, and Treasure Valleys are filled with sunshine and hop bines racing toward the top of the trellis! The 2025 crop is off to a promising start, although biotic pressure and water challenges will require diligence and ingenuity throughout the growing season.

The 2024 crop finished as the smallest volume crop overall since 2017 for Yakima Chief.  With the 2025 crop underway, each variety is charting its course towards a balanced inventory position. The US hop acreage is down an additional 6 percent in total this year, with the majority of that decline resting in the high alpha varieties. With just over 42,000 acres strung for harvest in 2025, this represents almost a 31 percent reduction in total acres from the peak in 2021. However, not all of this acreage decline can be tied to the costs of carrying excess inventory or reduced demand pressures.

We continue to cultivate the highest-quality and most productive acres of each variety. At the grower level, part of our sustainability mission is focused on higher yields and reduced inputs. This is being driven in part by the introduction of more efficient cultivars through our partnership with Hop Breeding Company and the initiation of fields with Virus-Free planting material. More productive acres are essential in reducing our impact on the environment and increasing our ability to provide incremental value to our customers.

With harvest less than two months away, our growers are fixed on delivering exceptional hops from each remaining acre. We look forward to seeing you on the farm!

Sincerely,

 

Jason Champoux

Vice President of Crop Production

Yakima Chief Ranches

In 2024, hop production in the United States took another intentional drop from 2023. For the 2025 growing season, acreage has again been slightly reduced. However, with the inclusion of more Virus-Free cultivars, less acreage does not necessarily mean fewer hops. All Virus-Free varieties have seen an increase in overall yield. As the oversupply of hops begins to taper, growers are cautiously optimistic about rightsizing the market.

Historical data collected from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service June reports. June 12, 2025: Crop Production 06/12/2025

2025 Acres Strung data as reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 12, 2025: Crop Production 06/12/2025

2024 Acreage Harvested data represents actual acreage harvested in crop year 2024 as reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, December 20, 2024: hops1224.pdf

Crop year 2024 harvest data as reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, December 20, 2024: hops1224.pdf

In Idaho’s Treasure Valley, the cultivation of Citra®, Mosaic®, and Simcoe® has maintained stable acreage. The region has experienced typical weather conditions, supporting healthy crop growth. Growers in Oregon have experienced a spectrum of spring weather, from high temperatures to heavy rainfall. Occasional temperatures up to the 80s allowed for ample early growth. While slow to start, Citra had a noticeably positive response to the warmer weather. Some growers have been actively managing high levels of downy mildew in Simcoe; however, this outbreak is isolated. Overall, Oregon’s growing conditions have been supportive of healthy crop development, with growers actively managing quality, pests, and mildew.

Washington’s Yakima Valley has enjoyed a mild spring, with things progressing as anticipated. The acreage for core varieties Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe is in great shape, with a similar mix of mature and baby plants as crop year 2024 (Simcoe has seen an increase in 2025 baby plantings). Alpha varieties like HBC 682 and HBC 1325 are expanding, and many baby acres will be planted or refreshed over the summer. Heading into July, water availability is a growing concern, with rotational shutoffs expected. Despite this, crop conditions are off to a strong start. Early outbreaks of powdery and downy mildew have been managed, and mite pressure remains low. Growers are managing their resources to their best ability and are confident about this season.

Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR) Agronomist, Drew Carlson Rothe, has expressed confidence for the season. He is looking forward to finding out what Virus-Free HBC 682 is capable of and is enthusiastic about the fresh set of ambitious interns who will be learning the ropes (the wires?) over this exciting summer of hop growth!

Join Joe Catron, Director of Grower Services; Sabrina Heitmann, YCR’s Research Agronomist; and Drew Carlson Rothe as they walk the fields assessing spring crop conditions.

Megan Soules is the facilitator of our farm visits. If you would like to schedule a tour, please reach out to megan.soules@yakimachief.com. If you have any questions regarding crop news and updates, reach out to us at hops@yakimachief.com.

To conclude, in reflection of the focus to have a more balanced supply and the improved yield efficiencies per acre at the farm level, it is likely the industry may not match some of the historical high acreage that we have seen in years past, in the near future. As we approach another harvest with acreage reductions and a more intentional supply balance in the years ahead, we recommend brewers to mindfully manage or finalize their contracts for 2025 to secure volume of critical varieties. Our sales team is here to work with you. Please contact your regional sales team or get connected at hops@yakimachief.com.