Michigan hop crop report week of May 29, 2025
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EmailHop bines are ready to take off with warmer temperatures on the way.
Weekly weather review
On Friday, May 30, there will be a big trough over the Great Lakes region with cooler than normal unsettled weather. By early next week, a very different upper air pattern with a big ridge over the Great Lakes will emerge. After an unusually cool week last week, with temperature departures 8-12 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, the forecast for next week is calling for warmer temperatures.
Despite near average precipitation since March 1, a swath across the middle of the Lower Peninsula is experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions.
Accumulated growing degree days (base 50 F) are less than 200 in the Upper Peninsula and approaching 480 in southern Michigan. GDD50 are slightly behind normal in the northern Lower Peninsula and slightly ahead in southern Michigan, although not as much as a couple of weeks ago.
Looking ahead
Medium range guidance suggests warmer than normal temperatures and slightly above normal precipitation June 2-6, 2025
There is an outside chance of rain Friday. Saturday and Sunday should be in the 70s and maybe 80s in southern Michigan. We welcome warm and dry conditions for the work week ahead.
For the most recent Michigan State University agriculture weather forecast, visit: MSU Extension Agriculture Weather.
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 and 3: Elongation of Bines depending upon growing location.
In the field
Plants have been trained and are in the vegetative growth stage. Precipitation is near normal for this time of year and very similar to 2024. While accumulated growing degree days (base 50) are also close to normal for this time of year, they are well behind GDD (50) for this stage in 2024. Temperatures 8-10 F below normal over the last 10 days or so are to blame. However, the forecast calls for above normal temperatures beginning next week and hops should respond well. Growers are actively fertilizing, scouting for downy mildew, and side disking as well.
For pest information, please see the May 29, 2025 Hop Pest Report.
Sincere thanks to the Michigan hop producers who provided timely input for the Michigan Hop Crop Report.
Stay connected!
For more information on hop production practices, please sign up for the hop MSU Extension Newsletter, the free MSU Hop Chat Series and continue to visit Michigan State University Extension’s Hops webpage or the MSU Hops News Facebook.
If you are unsure of what is causing symptoms in the field, you can submit a sample to MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics. Visit the webpage for specific information about how to collect, package, ship and image 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 utilizing pesticide can benefit from getting their license, even if not legally required. Understanding pesticides and the associated regulations can help growers protect themselves, 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 ed 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.
