U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that
Oregon State University (OSU) will receive more than $180,000 to research and
develop management strategies for the fusarium canker fungus killing
hops in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
“Since 98% of U.S. hops are grown right here in the Pacific
Northwest, Oregon State University’s topnotch researchers are well-positioned
to provide key insights into how to manage the growing threat this fungus
poses,” Wyden said. “I am gratified to see these dollars go toward protecting
hops production, as Oregon’s thriving hop production and brewing industries are
key players in our state’s job creation, economic growth and tourism.”
“If you like beer, you should love this grant,” said Senator
Merkley. “Oregon’s thriving hops industry supports brewers large and small here
in Oregon and across the nation and is a strong driver of Oregon’s economy. I
look forward to seeing how OSU uses this funding to study the fungus that is
threatening hop crops to help protect this vital industry for our state and
beyond.”?
A fungus called fusarium canker has been an
increasingly greater threat to hop production in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington,
which produce 98% of U.S. hops. OSU will use the?$182,633
in federal funds to study the fungus in order to manage its spread in
commercial yards and propagative rootstock material. Researchers will work with
hop producers to reduce the fusarium canker threat for U.S. hop
production in the Pacific Northwest.
“A fungus that causes a disease called fusarium canker has
been an increasingly greater threat to hop production in Oregon, Idaho, and
Washington, which produce 98% of U.S. hop cones that are used for brewing
beer,” said Dr. Cynthia Ocamb, Extension Plant Pathologist in the Department of
Botany and Plant Pathology at OSU. “There is very little known about the
disease, so these funds will allow OSU to study the fungus alongside USDA
scientists and hop growers in order to manage its spread in commercial hop
yards and propagative rootstock material throughout the Pacific
Northwest.”
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