U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home News & Events News Articles Research News 2002





- ARS News & Events
- AgResearch Magazine
- Image Gallery
- News
- Search News & Events
- Pesticide Drift May Endanger Pollinators
- ARS Seeks a Fire Ant Fix
- Scientific Discoveries 2024
- ARS Featured Photos
- Down on the Farm
- Facebook Live Events
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- News Archive
- Science in Your Shopping Cart
- Scientific Discoveries
- Social Media
- Under the Microscope
- AgResearch magazine
- ARS at Work
- ARS Memorial Lectures
- ARS Science Hall of Fame
- Citrus Disease (Huanglongbing)
- Contact Office of Communications
- Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Mobile Apps
- Public Affairs Contacts
- Publications and Other Resources
- USDA Blog
- Videos

Archived Page
 This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
 Click image for caption and other photo information.
Read the magazine story to find out more.
Mildew-Resistant Hops May Be Adopted by Brewing Industry
By David ElsteinSeptember 12, 2002
The production of beer depends on the continued stable supply of an agricultural commodity--hops. Agricultural Research Service geneticist John Henning is working to ensure that an emerging disease in hop production areas doesn't threaten the crop.
Henning works for the ARS Forage Seed and Cereal Research Center in Corvallis, Ore., where he studies diseases that affect hops. In 1997, the newly invasive disease, powdery mildew, wiped out 10,000 of the 48,000 acres of hops in the United States. Prior to the accidental introduction of this disease, farmers were already spending considerable amounts to control downy mildew. During the following few years, growers spent an additional $300 an acre on fungicides to keep both mildews under control. Something else had to be done.
In February 2002, Henning released "Newport"--the only bittering hop that has a high level of genetic resistance to the two mildew strains. This new variety reduces the cost of hop production and the amount of fungicides used in hop production because the fungus is not able to infest resistant plants.
Newport produces large yields and is considered "grower friendly." One major brewery is conducting large-scale pilot brewing trials of the germplasm, while another large brewery has requested samples to start its own tests, so it may be used commercially.
The beer industry makes extensive use of hop varieties developed by ARS geneticists, including two others released by Henning--"Horizon" is used fairly extensively, and "Sterling" is used to a lesser extent. At least one-third of the hops in American beers have ARS origins, and some foreign beers also contain ARS hops.
All beer contains two types of hops. The bittering hop is used to make the beer more bitter. The aroma hop is used for flavoring.
More information about this research can be found in Agricultural Research magazine.
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov