Sp Cr 2 (3-06) Hop Stocks National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 20, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Hop Stocks" call Kim Ritchie at (360) 902-1962, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT. March 1 Hop Stocks Down From Last Year The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on March 1, 2006, totaled 69.0 million pounds, 9 percent less than March 1, 2005, and 19 percent less than March 1, 2004. This is the lowest March 1 hop stocks since 2001 when 67.0 million pounds were held. The record high March 1 stocks was 100.3 million pounds held in 1984. Stocks held by brewers, at 39.0 million pounds, were down 9 percent from a year ago, but were 5 percent more than March 1, 2004. Stocks held by growers and dealers on March 1, 2006, totaled 30.0 million pounds, 9 percent less than March 1, 2005, and 37 percent less than March 1, 2004. Hops: Stocks Held by Growers, Dealers, and Brewers, United States, 2003-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : September 1 : March 1 Stocks 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------- : 2003 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Stocks Held by: : : Dealers/Growers : 34,000 31,000 27,000 48,000 33,000 30,000 Brewers : 35,000 34,000 33,000 37,000 43,000 39,000 : Total Stocks : 69,000 65,000 60,000 85,000 76,000 69,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes equivalent pounds of dry hops held in form of extract or pellets. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. Follow the instructions on the screen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.