Several hop varieties will soon be ready to pick. Columbus hops look to be the first to get ripe cones. Time to make sure we are ready to dry and the nitrogen bagger is ready to go.
Read moreUncouth Native North American Hops
The Multihead Neomexicana hops are a little uncouth and not as cultured as their European cousins. I think they might fit right in here at http://www.darbrofarms.com We are working to get a good row going. Native to the Southwest U.S.
Read moreGrowth spurt
Dry sunny weather in the http://Darbro Farms.com hop yard brought on a little growth spurt. Side arms starting to branch out! We went right back to the rain though. Hopefully we can keep the growth going.
Read moreA little weeding
We got a little weeding in, but of course it’s raining again now.
Read morePlaying in the mud
Elsa wound up playing in the mud while I spread on fertilizer. Luckily I got her mostly hosed off before mom got home!
Read moreBugs
The leaf hoppers and spider mites have launched an attack. It’s been a hard spring for hops with all the flooding. My neighbors who depend on farming for their livelihood are really being challenged. Not many fields have been planted.
Read moreHop Yard Time Lapse
My and Owen’s first attempt at a hop field time lapse video. We hoped to capture more bine growth. We will keep trying. Pardon my lack of YouTube editing skills. Will have to study up on that! Try the YouTube
Read moreCNC Hop field signs
Today was a rainy day on the hop farm. Elsa and I had drafted up new hops field signs in vCarve and it was a good time to fire up the CNC machine.
Read moreIrrigation Upgrade
Getting the last of the fittings welded on and the valves installed. This summer it will have to be manual, but the goal is to have a controller read soil sensors and operate the valves automatically. That will have to
Read moreDone with 2019 planting!
We are done with new planting for 2019. Three new full rows with hundreds of plants added. New varieties Willamette and Columbia added and our Crystal Hops have been more that doubled. Time to work on irrigation, weeding and 18
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