A handful of producers have started growing hops in South Dakota and have made arrangements with some of the state's microbreweries to use the hopes in local beer.

"Hops are a very new crop in South Dakota," says Jon Farris, South Dakota's acting secretary of agriculture. "Though we only have a few growers at this time, there is potential for this industry to expand, just as the grape and wine industry has expanded in the last fifteen years."

While home brewers have been growing hops for use in their own recipes for years, commercial production of hops is just beginning. Several Black Hills producers have conducted on-farm research to determine the viability of large-scale hops production, and the results are promising.

Funding for this research has been supported by the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, in which federal funds are administered by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. The funding has enabled growers to learn important production points, such as variety selection, key planting dates, and pest management, along with harvesting and drying options.

Dakota Hops in Spearfish and Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City have both received funds to build their knowledge and conduct research to determine which hop varieties can thrive in South Dakota. Firehouse Brewing utilizes hops grown on their farm in making their beer. Crow Peak Brewing Company in Spearfish features hops grown by Dakota Hops.

If you are interested in hops production or the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, contact Alison Kiesz at 605-626-3272 or [email protected].

Source: South Dakota Department of Agriculture