Javascript is required to use this website.

Midwest hops farmers pace their growth

Phyllis Coulter
Jan 11, 2021
Jan 11, 2021 Updated Jan 15, 2021

Ross Sorensen and Nick Reutter, owners of Land Locked Hops, with Tim Lange, a brewer from Chicago. Sorensen and Reutter grow hops on 3.5 acres in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Photo courtesy Land Locked Hops

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

As with real estate, location matters in growing hops.

kAm%96 A=2?E[ H9@D6 4@?6D 255 7=2G@C 2?5 2C@>2 E@ 366C[ 92D :ED C@@ED :? E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE[ 3FE 2 92C5J 92?57F= @7 4C27E 366C 6?E9FD:2DED 2?5 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 92G6 EC:65 E96:C 92?5 2E 8C@H:?8 :E 96C6]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 H:E9 D=@H[ 42C67F= 8C@HE9 2C6 >@DE DF446DD7F=[ D2:5 vC2?E |4r2CEJ[ &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:D tIE6?D:@? 65F42E@C] $@>6 8C@H6CD[ H9@ >2J 92G6 6IA2?565 E@@ BF:4<=J[ 2C6 @FE @7 3FD:?6DD]k^Am

kAm#6D62C49 2?5 C6D@FC467F=?6DD 92G6 96=A65 qC:2? s2==2> 2?5 p?E9@?J (6=EJ 56G6=@A E96:C 3FD:?6DD :? p>3@J[ x==:?@:D[ 56DA:E6 E96 492==6?8:?8 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 4C@A :? E9:D 4=:>2E6]k^Am

Brian Dallam, a northern Illinois farmers and elevator employee, and Anthony Welty, a marketer for an equipment dealership, are the sparks behind Live Wire Hops.
Photo courtesy Live Wire Hops

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ :?DE625 @7 3FJ:?8 AC:46J ?6H A@=6D E@ D6E FA E96:C EC6==:D 7@C 8C@H:?8 9@AD[ E96 A2CE?6CD @AE65 E@ C6AFCA@D6 6=64EC:4 A@=6D] %9:D :?DA:C65 E96 9@A J2C5’D ?2>6[ w@E (:C6 w@AD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrC@A >2?286>6?Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmp3@FE 7:G6 J62CD 28@[ (6=EJ[ H9@ H2D 42AE:G2E65 3J E96 AC@46DD @7 >2<:?8 366C[ DE2CE65 E9:?<:?8 23@FE 9@H 96 4@F=5 36 A2CE @7 :E] w6 49@D6 E96 28C:4F=EFC2= 2DA64E @7 E92E H@C=5]k^Am

kAm“x 925 @?6 AC@3=6>i x 925 ?@ 28C:4F=EFC2= 324<8C@F?5[” (6=EJ D2:5] “qC:2? Ws2==2>X :D 2 AC@F5 72C>6C @7 >2?J 86?6C2E:@?D]”k^Am

kAm(6=EJ AC@A@D65 9:D :562 E@ 9:D 4@FD:? qC:2? s2==2> @G6C 2 76H 366CD 2E 2 72>:=J C6F?:@?]k^Am

kAm“(92E E96 964< 2C6 9@ADn” H2D s2==2>’D 7:CDE C624E:@?]k^Am

kAmw6 8C@HD `[d__ 24C6D @7 4@C?[ D@J362?D 2?5 H962E 2?5 C2:D6D 42EE=6 H:E9 9:D 72E96C :? {66 r@F?EJ] qFE :? DAC:?8 a_`e[ @? =2?5 E92E 925 366? 42EE=6 A2DEFC6 2?5 c\w AC@;64ED[ s2==2> 2??@F?465[ “(6’C6 D6EE:?8 FA EC6==:D6D]” w6 925 E96 423=6[ 92C5H2C6 2?5 A@=6D C625J 7@C E96 ;@3]k^Am

kAms2==2> 6BF2E6D E96 E:>6 2?5 4@>>:E>6?E :E E2<6D E@ C2:D6 @?6 24C6 @7 9@AD E@ 8C@H:?8 `__ 24C6D @7 4@C?] $@>6 @7 E96 4@?46AED 2C6 E96 D2>6 2D 8C@H:?8 4@C?[ DF49 2D >2?28:?8 E96 }[ ! 2?5 z[ 3FE E96C6’D 2 =@E >@C6 E@ :E[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAms2==2> 4@>A2C6D >2?28:?8 E96 4C@A E@ 2 “D:I\>@?E9 2C> HC6DE=6]”k^Am

kAm“%96C6 :D 2 C62D@? H9J heT @7 E96 9@AD 4@>6 @FE @7 E96 !24:7:4 }@CE9H6DE[” (6=EJ D2:5]k^Am

kAm(665 >2?286>6?E[ 5:D62D6 AC6G6?E:@?[ >:=56H 2?5 @E96C DF49 492==6?86D 2C6 4@>>@? 96C6[ (6=EJ D2:5]k^Am

kAm|@DE @7 E96 9@AD 8C@H? 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 2C6 2C@F?5 E96 cdE9 A2C2==6=] *@F 42? 8C@H 9@AD 2E =@H6C =2E:EF56D[ 3FE E96J >2J ?@E J:6=5 2D H6==] wF>:5:EJ :? E9:D C68:@? 42? 6I246C32E6 5:D62D6 AC@3=6>D[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mx?E6?D6 :?G6DE>6?Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm“xE’D :?4C65:3=J 42A:E2= 2?5 =23@C :?E6?D:G6] *@F’G6 8@E E@ <?@H H92E J@F 2C6 86EE:?8 :?E@[” (6=EJ D2:5]k^Am

kAm~?6 24C6 @C a_ 24C6D[ J@F AC6EEJ >F49 92G6 E96 D2>6 :?G6DE>6?E[ #@DD $@C6?D6?[ @7 {2?5 {@4<65 w@AD :? 62DE6C? x==:?@:D[ D2:5 @7 E96 4@DE 7@C 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Snap2Graze: grazing cereal rye really can be that simple
Haugen Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale

kAm$@C6?D6?[ 2 C62= 6DE2E6 2EE@C?6J[ 2?5 9:D A2CE?6C }:4< #6FEE6C[ 2 32?<6C[ 8C@H 9@AD @? 23@FE b]d 24C6D @7 E96 d 24C6D E96J 92G6 42A24:EJ 7@C E@52J] (6E H62E96C :? a_`h 42FD65 2 G2C:6EJ 72:=FC6 @? E96:C =2?5 :? xC@BF@:D r@F?EJ :? a_`h] %96J 564:565 E@ D42=6 324< 2 3:E E6>A@C2C:=J[ H9:=6 E96 H62E96C 2?5 5:D62D6 E92E J62C <?@4<65 D@>6 9@A AC@5F46CD @FE @7 3FD:?6DD]k^Am

kAm#@3 $:CC:?6[ D6?:@C 65F42E@C 2E |:49:82? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ tIE6?D:@?[ H96C6 E96 4C@A 92D 366? C6D62C4965 7@C 2 5@K6? J62CD[ D2:5 2 9@AD J2C5 4@DED 36EH66? S`_[___ 2?5 S`a[___ A6C 24C6 E@ 6DE23=:D9[ 2?5 E96? J@F 92G6 E@ H2:E 2E =62DE 2 J62C 367@C6 J@F 42? 92CG6DE — FDF2==J E9C66 E@ 7@FC J62CD 7@C `__T 7F== 92CG6DE]k^Am

kAm“%96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 4@DED 2C6 FA7C@?E 2?5 3:8[” $:CC:?6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm|2?J |:49:82? 8C@H6CD 92G6 2 564256 9625 DE2CE @? 8C@H6CD :? x==:?@:D[ x?5:2?2[ (:D4@?D:? 2?5 x@H2[ H9@ 2C6 C6=2E:G6 ?6H3:6D E@ E96 4C@A H:E9:? E96 =2DE 7:G6 E@ `_ J62CD @C =6DD]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 2 9@AD D9@CE286 :? a__f\_g[ 8C@H6CD H6C6 86EE:?8 BF:E6 2 3:E @7 >@?6J — 23@FE S`d E@ Sa_ A6C A@F?5[ $:CC:?6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“$@ E9:D 86?6C2E65 :?E6C6DE 2>@?8 72C>6CD 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 ?6G6C 72C>65 367@C6] |@DE @7 E96 62C=J 9@33J\EJA6 72C>6CD 2C6 ?@ =@?86C 8C@H:?8 9@AD[” $:CC:?6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm|:49:82? 92D 23@FE ad 4@>>6C4:2= 8C@H6CD E@52J] %96J 8C@H 23@FE e__ 24C6D :? E96 DE2E6[ $:CC:?6 D2:5] x? 4@>A2C:D@?[ |4r2CEJ 6DE:>2E6D x==:?@:D 92D 23@FE a_ 8C@H6CD H:E9 23@FE 92=7 @7 E96> 8C@H:?8 >@DE @7 E96 c_ 24C6D @7 9@AD :? E96 DE2E6]k^Am

kAm}6H G2C:6E:6D @7 |:5H6DE 9@AD 2C6 36:?8 4C62E65[ D2:5 (6=EJ[ H9@ 92D E6DE65 G2C:6E:6D 2?5 H@C<D 4=@D6=J H:E9 =@42= 3C6H6CD E@ 5:D4@G6C H92E 8C@HD H6== 96C6 2?5 H92E 3C6H6CD H2?E]k^Am

kAmvC@H6CD 4@==23@C2E6[ 3FE E96C6 :D ?@E 2 7@C>2= @C82?:K2E:@? :? x==:?@:D @C DFCC@F?5:?8 DE2E6D 2E E9:D A@:?E[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu:?5:?8 2 9@>6k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 324<3@?6 E@ E9:D 3FD:?6DD :D C6=2E:@?D9:AD[ D2:5 s2==2>[ H9@ H@C<D 7@C 2? u$ 6=6G2E@C :? 255:E:@? E@ 72C>:?8] w6 2?5 (6=EJ[ H9@ H@C<D :? >2C<6E:?8 7@C 2? 28C:4F=EFC2= 6BF:A>6?E 4@>A2?J[ 6DE:>2E6 E96J DA6?5 2D >F49 E:>6 @? >2C<6E:?8 2D E96J 5@ 8C@H:?8 E96 4C@A]k^Am

kAmrFCC6?E=J[ {:G6 (:C6 w@AD :D 5@:?8 3FD:?6DD H:E9 `_ 24C6D]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 :?4C65:3=J 8C2E67F= E92E E96J E@@< 2 492?46 @? FD[” (6=EJ D2:5 @7 E96 3C6H6C:6D E96J DFAA=J E@] w6’D 9@A:?8 E@ 4F=E:G2E6 2?@E96C `_ 2?5 8C@H E@ >66E DA64:7:4 ?665D @7 3C6H6C:6D]k^Am

kAm“x H2?E E@ 8C@H 2E E96 C:89E A246] x 5@?’E H2?E `_ 24C6D @7 9@AD :7 E96C6 :D ?@E 2 9@>6 7@C :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$:CC:?6 D2:5 E96 >@DE DF446DD7F= 72C>D 2C6 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 8@@5 2E >2C<6E:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96 @?6D E92E 92G6 >256 :E H@C< 92G6 C62==J 7@4FD65 @? D2=6D[” 96 D2:5] “xE D66>D @3G:@FD[ 3FE :7 J@F 5@?’E D6== 2== @7 J@FC 4C@A @C ?62C=J 2== @7 :E[ J@F =:<6=J H@?’E >2<6 2?J >@?6J]”k^Am

kAm|2C<6E:?8 :D 2=D@ 2 >2;@C 7@4FD 7@C {2?5 {@4<65 w@AD :? 62DE6C? x==:?@:D] $@C6?D6? 2?5 #6FEE6C DE2CE65 H:E9 ed A=2?ED :? $@C6?D6?’D 324<J2C5]k^Am

kAm%96 C62= 6DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 2?5 32?<6C >:89E ?@E 36 E96 4@>3:?2E:@? @?6 H@F=5 :>28:?6 8C@H:?8 9@AD[ 3FE E96:C A6@A=6 D<:==D 2C6 2 3:8 A2CE @7 E96:C DF446DD :? >2C<6E:?8] (9:=6 E96 >@56= @7 G:D:E:?8 3C6H6C:6D’ E2A C@@>D E@ >2<6 2 D2=6 :D 2 H9@=6 =@E 92C56C 5FC:?8 2 A2?56>:4[ E96 A2:C <66AD 4=@D6 4@?E24E H:E9 4FDE@>6CD 2?5 A@E6?E:2= 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am

kAm“(6 =:<6 E@ 56=:G6C @FC 9@AD A6CD@?2==J[” $@C6?D6? D2:5 @7 A2CE @7 E96:C >2C<6E:?8 DEC2E68J]k^Am

kAm%96J ECJ E@ 36 E96 36DE 2E 8C@H:?8 9@AD :? E96:C 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“pE 2 D>2== D42=6 H6 42? A2J 2EE6?E:@? E@ 56E2:=[” $@C6?D6? D2:5]k^Am

kAm!2CE @7 E96 2AA62= 7@C 4@?DF>6CD :D E96:C 56D:C6 7@C =@42= AC@5F4ED] q66C 5C:?<6CD G2=F6 8C@H6CD =:<6 {2?5 {@4<65 w@AD 2?5 w@E (:C6 w@AD] %96J =:<6 E96 E2DE6 2?5 D>6== @7 =@42==J 8C@H? 9@AD[ ;FDE 2D E96J =:<6 =@42==J 8C@H? E@>2E@6D[ $@C6?D6? D2:5]k^Am