Michigan hop crop report – June 18, 2026
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EmailGrowers should be considering leaf plus petiole nutrient testing.
Weather review
Most areas of Michigan experienced normal temperatures for the last week, month and 90-day period compared to the 30-year average. Growing degree days (GDD) base 50 are still slightly ahead of normal in southern Michigan, although not as far ahead compared to earlier this spring. Growing degree days (50) in the northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas are near normal for this time of year.
Accumulated precipitation over the last week was normal throughout much of the Lower Peninsula except for a swath from southwest Michigan to the Thumb, which received more rain than normal. Much of this precipitation occurred on June 17, with over 2 inches of rain. Over the last 30 days, precipitation was normal to slightly above normal aside from the eastern Upper Peninsula and southeast Michigan. The 90-day average is still above normal for northern lower Michigan based on the excessive amount of rain received earlier this spring.
Looking ahead
The forecast calls for cooler conditions across the state for the next seven to 10 days. The 6-10 day forecast model is predicting cooler than average temperatures and wetter than normal conditions.
Visit MSU Extension’s Agriculture Weather page for the most recent agricultural weather forecast.
Stage of production/physiology
Hops across Michigan are in Principal Growth Stage 1: Leaf Development (from re-growth after burn back) and entering Growth Stage 2: Formation of Side Shoots, 3: Elongation of Bines, and potentially 4: Inflorescence emergence depending upon growing location.
In the field
Plants are 15-16 feet for most varieties in southern Michigan. Pest pressure has been low for the season. Recent rainfall has provided optimum conditions for downy mildew, so growers are maintaining a tight plant protection schedule. Hops are approaching their most productive stage, adding 50-60 pounds of biomass per acre per day prior to switching to flowering and cone development.
In northern Michigan, which is 10-14 days behind farms in southern Michigan, the tallest plants are around 8 feet. Growers have been applying fertilizer and plant protection products to ensure optimum quality.
Growers will be pulling leaf plus petiole samples for nutrient analysis shortly to amend any nutrient deficiencies prior to cone development. The following table shows optimum leaf plus petiole nutrient ranges for hop.
| Nutrients | John I Haas | Plant Analysis Handbook III: Vegetative Stage - Pre-Bloom |
Plant Analysis Handbook III: Reproductive Stage and Full Bloom |
Western Labs 5.5 ft above aground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (%) | 3.2 - 5.6 | 2.13 - 3.93 | 4.0 | |
| Potassium (%) | 1.49 - 2.5 | 1.6 - 3.4 | 0.97 - 2.55 | 3.0 |
| Phosphorus (%) | 0.29 - 0.6 | 0.27 - 0.54 | 0.18 - 0.43 | 0.4 |
| Calcsium (%) | 0.79 - 1.2 | 1.03 - 2.57 | 3.09 - 6.05 | 2.5 |
| Magnesium (%) | 0.24 - 0.8 | 0.29 - 0.67 | 0.55 - 1.71 | 0.4 |
| Manganese (ppm) | 25 - 150 | 45 - 125 | 50 - 150 | 85 |
| Iron (ppm) | 30 - 60 | 44.3 - 97.9 | 35.4 - 151 | |
| Copper (ppm) | 10 - 25 | 8 - 29 | 5.7 - 16.6 | 10 |
| Boron (ppm) | 24 - 75 | 17.6 - 63.2 | 48 - 150 | 55 |
| Zinc (ppm) | 24 - 50 | 23.2 - 108 | 19.4 - 57.1 | 60 |
| % Sulfur Sampled Basis | 0.16 - 0.32 | 0.2 - 0.34 | 0.18 - 0.30 | 0.25 |
| % Sulfur Dry Matter Basis | 0.16 - 0.32 | 0.2 - 0.34 | 0.18 - 0.30 | |
| Mo | 0.5 - 3 | 1 - 5 | ||
| Na | 0 - 1400 | |||
| NO3 ppm | 4000-12000 |
Leaf plus petiole testing is offered at the following Labs:
- Agro-Liquid, St. Johns, MI
- A&L Great Lakes, Ft. Wayne, IN
- New Age Laboratories, South Haven, MI
- Western Labs, Parma, ID
Pest management update
For pest information, see the June 18 Hop Pest Report.
MSU Hop Chat Series update
The following recordings are now available on MSU Mediaspace:
- May 8 Hop Chat Series, featuring Erin Lizotte and Rob Sirrine
- May 21 Hop Chat Series, featuring MSU irrigation specialist Younsuk Dong
- June 4 Hop Chat Series, featuring Tim Miles
- June 18, Hop Chat Series, featuring Erin Lizotte and Rob Sirrine
Sincere thanks to the Michigan hop producers who provided timely input for the Michigan Hop Crop Report.
Stay connected!
For more information from Michigan State University Extension on hop production practices, sign up for the Hops & Barley MSU Extension Newsletter, attend the free MSU Hop Chat Series and continue to visit the MSU Extension Hops website or MSU Hops News Facebook.
If you are unsure of what is causing symptoms in your field, submit a sample to MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics. Visit the webpage for specific information about how to collect, package, ship and take pictures of plant samples for diagnosis. If you have any doubt about what or how to collect a good sample, please contact the lab at 517-432-0988 or pestid@msu.edu.
Become a licensed pesticide applicator
All growers using pesticides can benefit from getting a pesticide applicator license, even if not legally required. Understanding pesticides and the associated regulations can help you protect yourself, others and the environment. Michigan pesticide applicator licenses are administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. You can read all about the process by visiting the Pesticide FAQ webpage. Michigan State University offers a number of resources to assist people pursuing their license, including an online study/continuing education course and study manuals.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (grant no 2024-70006-43569) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.