Contact: Ashley Huibregtse, 608-224-5002
MADISON – James Altweis of Gorst Valley Hops in Mazomanie had a vision to re-establish a hops production industry in Wisconsin. While the state has a dynamic hops industry in the 19th century, it had since disappeared.
Altwies received an Agricultural Development and Diversification (ADD) grant in 2009 from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to develop needed technology for hops’ processing and educational resources to share with other producers to make a viable agricultural industry. The 2009 final report from this project and others are now available online as a resource for producers.
“There are many opportunities for specialty crops such as hops in Wisconsin, but there must be a market and organization to make it successful,” said Altweis. “By receiving an ADD grant, we were able to build an infrastructure for hops to get a high value crop in the hands of Wisconsin growers.”
DATCP awards ADD grants competitively each year to projects that are likely to stimulate Wisconsin’s agricultural economy through the development and exploration of new value-added products, new markets, or technologies in agriculture. Each ADD grant recipient submits a final report to share findings and results of the work. In the 2009 Final Report of Gorst Valley Hops, Altweis shares information on the hops plant, how to establish a field, a design for harvesting machinery, and details about the available market and demand.
As a result of his grant project, Altweis has reinvested $200,000 into his enterprise, developed new technology, reached out to new buyers, and created opportunities for more jobs in the future. About 1,000 people have attended educational workshops organized by Gorst Valley Hops to learn more about how they can be involved in the hops industry.
Altweis explained there are other groups now doing similar things to Gorst Valley Hops, spurring competition in the industry. He sees this as a good thing to keep the industry looking forward and help everyone refine their techniques.
“People are hungry for new information, and I encourage people to read the reports if they are interested in learn more about hops production or other agricultural industries,” added Altweis. “The more information you have on a business, the better able you are to make decisions.”
The 2009 Final Report of Gorst Valley Hops and nine other projects are available to read at datcp.wisconsin.gov, under Business, Grants & Financial Aid, 2009. Some other project reports featured include: growing blackberries organically under high tunnels, reducing parasitic infestations of yellow perch, and developing of mechanical harvesting for sweet potatoes.
“The benefits of ADD grants can reach far beyond the recipient by sharing knowledge gathered and technologies produced,” concluded DATCP’s Mike Bandli. “Gorst Valley Hops is an example how a grant can build infrastructure for an industry and cause investment that many producers and consumers can benefit from.”
For more information on ADD grants or past recipients, contact Bandli at mike.bandli@wisconsin.gov or 608-224-5136.
