Sp Cr 2 (3-04) Hop Stocks National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 19, 2004, 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) 902-1940, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT. March 1 Hop Stocks Up From Last Year The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on March 1, 2004, totaled 85.0 million pounds, 4 percent more than March 1, 2003, but 4 percent less than March 1, 2002. This level of March 1 stocks can be compared with record highs and lows for the last ten years, when the high was 90.9 million pounds for March 1, 1994, and the low was March 1, 2000 at 64.5 million pounds. Stocks held by brewers, at 37.0 million pounds, were down 10 percent from a year ago, and 16 percent less than March 1, 2002. Stocks held by growers and dealers on March 1, 2004, totaled 48.0 million pounds, 17 percent more than March 1, 2003, and 7 percent more than March 1, 2002. Hops: Stocks Held by Growers, Dealers, and Brewers, United States, 2001-2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : September 1 : March 1 Stocks 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------- : 2001 : 2002 : 2003 : 2002 : 2003 : 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Stocks Held by: : : Dealers/Growers : 16,000 30,000 34,000 45,000 41,000 48,000 Brewers : 38,000 35,000 35,000 44,000 41,000 37,000 : Total Stocks : 54,000 65,000 69,000 89,000 82,000 85,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes equivalent pounds of dry hops held in form of extract or pellets. The next "Hop Stocks" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on September 16, 2004. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (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 the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 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.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. 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.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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.