Sp Cr 2 (3-00) Hop Stocks National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 23, 2000, 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 Lowest Level Since 1980 The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on March 1, 2000, totaled 64.5 million pounds, 14 percent below March 1, 1999 and 15 percent below two years ago. This represents the lowest March inventory since 1980 when 62.0 million pounds were stored in the United States. Stocks held by brewers, at 43.5 million pounds, fell 13 percent from last year and 14 percent from March 1, 1998. Stocks held by growers and dealers on March 1, 2000, at 21.0 million pounds, were 16 percent less than stocks on hand for both March 1, 1999 and 1998. Brewers held about two thirds of total stocks, whereas growers and dealers held the other third. Hops: Stocks Held by Growers, Dealers, and Brewers, United States, 1997-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : September 1 : March 1 Stocks 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Stocks Held by: : : Dealers/Growers : 17,500 14,000 14,500 25,000 25,000 21,000 Brewers : 44,500 41,000 39,500 50,500 50,000 43,500 : Total Stocks : 62,000 55,000 54,000 75,500 75,000 64,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 18, 2000. 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, 14th and 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: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http://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. 2) If you do NOT have Internet access, send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (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.