Spring work 2010

1) After quite a long winter, spring work was started in the hop fields some days ago. Some farmers are still fastening the wires for training the hop vines. Normally, this work will have already been done whilst the ground is frosty in winter in order to avoid surface damage to the soil by heavy machinery.

2) Meanwhile the soil is almost dry and most farmers started grubbing and cutting the vines; new combi-equipment enables farmers to do plugging and cutting in one step. This is suitable for regulating vine shoot growth and regeneration of the root stock. At the same time, some diseases such as peronospora and downey mildew and pests like red spider mites are reduced. The treatment also helps to mechanically kill weeds and farmers can obtain cuttings from the hop roots, if necessary.

3) After cutting, seasonal workers are hired to insert the wires into the soil. No machines have been developed yet for this labour intensive hand work. If weather conditions are favourable, this work should be finished in time by mid April.

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