Hop Stocks ISSN: 1949-1484 Released September 19, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). September 1 Hop Stocks Up 16 Percent from a Year Ago The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on September 1, 2018 totaled 114 million pounds, 16 percent more than the September 1, 2017 stocks inventory of 98.0 million pounds. Stocks held at dealer and grower locations on September 1, 2018 totaled 72.0 million pounds. Stocks held by brewers totaled 42.0 million pounds. Hops: Stocks Held by Growers, Dealers, and Brewers, United States, 2016-2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : September 1 : March 1 Stocks 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 : 2016 : 2017 : 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds : Dealers/growers ..: 49,000 64,000 72,000 88,000 105,000 132,000 Brewers ..........: 36,000 34,000 42,000 40,000 35,000 37,000 Total stocks .....: 85,000 98,000 114,000 128,000 140,000 169,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes equivalent pounds of dry hops held in form of extract or pellets. Statistical Methodology Survey procedures: Grower surveys are conducted in the three estimating States (Washington, Idaho, and Oregon) to collect stocks of hops held by growers. Additionally, contacts are made to collect stocks held by brewers and dealers. Telephone follow-up of mail survey non-respondents is used to ensure adequate coverage. Estimating procedures: Information obtained from the hops stocks grower, dealer, and brewers surveys are used to establish estimates of hops stocks. These estimates are reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates. Revision policy: Hop stocks are subject to revision the following estimating period following initial publication and again in the following March Hop Stocks report. Revisions can be made when late reports are received, errors are detected in reporting and calculations, or production estimates are revised. Estimates will also be reviewed following the 5-Year Census of Agriculture. No revisions to these years will be made after that date. Reliability: Survey indications are subject to sampling variability because all operations storing hops are not included in the sample. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors cannot be measured directly, but are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch.................................................... (202) 720-2127 Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section............. (202) 720-2127 Vincent Davis - Apricots, Bananas, Cherries, Garlic, Lettuce, Mint, Papaya, Pears, Strawberries, Tomatoes....................................................... (202) 720-2157 Fleming Gibson - Avocados, Cauliflower, Celery, Citrus, Coffee, Dates, Figs, Kiwifruit, Nectarines, Olives, Green Peas, Taro, Watermelons.................. (202) 720-5412 Greg Lemmons - Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, Sugarbeets, Sugarcane, Sweet Potatoes........................................................... (202) 720-4285 Dan Norris - Artichokes, Austrian Winter Peas, Cantaloupes, Dry Beans, Dry Edible Peas, Honeydews, Lentils, Mushrooms, Peaches, Snap Beans ...... (202) 720-3250 Daphne Schauber - Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chile Peppers, Floriculture, Grapes, Hops, Maple Syrup, Tree Nuts, Spinach......................... (202) 720-4215 Chris Singh - Apples, Asparagus, Carrots, Lima Beans, Onions, Plums, Prunes, Sweet Corn, Tobacco.................................................. 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