Hop Compost Tea Trial

As the acreage of hops continues to rapidly expand in the northeast, there is a great need for production knowledge specific to our region. Downy mildew has been identified as the primary pathogen plaguing our hop yards. This disease causes reduced yield, poor hop quality, and in extreme cases, plant death. Control measures are desperately needed that can effectively reduce disease incidence and have a minimal impact on the environment. Farmers have increasing interest in the potential impact of bio-based foliar products on yield, quality, and disease incidence of hops. Compost teas have been used to control disease and provide fertility in a wide range of crops. This study evaluates the impact of compost tea on disease incidence and yield of second year hops