The closing report crop 2005 (Czech Republic)

Acreage according hop varieties by 20.8.2005

Acreage in the Czech Rep.: 5672 hectars

Evaluation of the harvest:

Saaz variety

The crop started in the third decade of August in the case of most of the farmers and it takes 18-22 days on average, what is about 4 days more than in previous years. Already first days of the harvest showed, that this year crop could be better than long-term average, it was confirmed after the end of harvest when most of the harvest had yield 1,2 tonns per ha and more. The exact results of the crop will be known at the end of November and will be confirmed as usual during Czech Hop Congress in January 2006 – on request can be sent.

Guessed results according growing areas:

Saaz……........……. 1,2 t/ha , alpha acids app 3,3-3,5% Auscha ……...……. 1,4 t/ha , alpha acids app 2,9-3,1% Trschitz …………... 1,6 t/ha , alpha acids app 2,8-3,0%

Other varieties

As far as further varieties regards the harvest was similar as in previous years, it is at the beginning of September. Due to only approx. 10% of total acreage of these varieties it has no significant influence on total average yield.

Guessed results according varieties:

Sládek ………… 2,4 t/ha ,alpha acids app 6,5 % Premiant …..... 2,2 t/ha ,alpha acids app 8,5 % Agnus …………. 2,4 t/ha , alpha acids app 9,5 % Bor ……….…….. 2,0 t/ha ,alpha acids app 8,0 %

Market situation

Due to high yield the pool for spot market hops first time in the Czech Republic was created. By the October 31st,2005 about 320 tonns of Saaz variety was placed into this pool and most probably if price will not be dramatically reduced this quantity will be unsoldable. By the farmers is another approx. 50 tonns of free hops { mainly in Auscha area} and our guess is that trading organization could have about another 300-500 tonns of unsold Saaz. From the other varieties are remaining unsold quantities of Sladek { approx. 50 tonns} and Bor {approx. 20-30 tonns}. On the other hand Premiant and Agnus are sold totally. We can evaluate this year crop like remarkable overaverage as far as yield concerns and weaker from the point of wiev of alpha acids content. We are looking forward to meet by our first crop 2006 crop report in May 2006 again.