Hop Stocks ISSN: 1949-1484 Released March 22, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March 1 Hop Stocks Down 3 Percent from Last Year The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on March 1, 2012, totaled 117 million pounds, 3 percent less than the revised March 1, 2011 estimate. This is the second highest level for March 1 hop stocks. The previous record of 121 million pounds was set on March 1, 2011. Stocks held by brewers, at 53.0 million pounds, were down 4 percent from a year ago. Stocks held by growers and dealers on March 1, 2012 totaled 64.0 million pounds, down 3 percent from a year ago. Hop Stocks Held by Growers, Dealers, and Brewers - United States: 2009-2012 [Includes equivalent pounds of dry hops held in extract or pellet form] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : September 1 : March 1 Stocks :------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds : Stocks held by: : : Dealers/Growers : 25,000 38,000 42,000 55,000 66,000 64,000 Brewers ........: 40,000 45,000 45,000 47,000 55,000 53,000 : Total stocks ...: 65,000 83,000 87,000 102,000 121,000 117,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statistical Methodology Survey procedures: Grower surveys are conducted in the three estimating States (Washington, Idaho, and Oregon) to collect stocks of hops held by growers. Additionally, contacts are made to collect stocks held by brewers and dealers. Telephone follow-up of mail survey non-respondents is used to ensure adequate coverage. Estimating procedures: Information obtained from the hops stocks grower, dealer, and brewers surveys are used to establish estimates of hops stocks. These estimates are reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates. Revision policy: Hop stocks are subject to revision the following estimating period following initial publication and again in the following March Hop Stocks report. Revisions can be made when late reports are received, errors are detected in reporting and calculations, and production estimates are revised. Estimates will also be reviewed following the 5-Year Census of Agriculture. No revisions to these years will be made after that date. Reliability: Survey indications are subject to sampling variability because all operations storing hops are not included in the sample. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors cannot be measured directly, but are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch............................................. (202) 720-2127 Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section...... (202) 720-2127 Debbie Flippin - Fresh and Processing Vegetables, Onions, Strawberries.. (202) 720-2157 Fred Granja - Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Prunes, Tobacco........ (202) 720-4288 Chris Hawthorn - Citrus, Coffee, Grapes, Sugar Crops, Tropical Fruits... (202) 720-5412 Dave Losh - Hops........................................................ (360) 709-2400 Dan Norris - Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas, Lentils, Mints, Mushrooms, Peaches, Pears, Wrinkled Seed Peas, Dry Beans............. (202) 720-3250 Daphne Schauber - Berries, Cranberries, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes........ (202) 720-4285 Erika White - Floriculture, Maple Syrup, Nursery, Tree Nuts............. (202) 720-4215 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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