Certified organic hops taking root in Tennessee

Two things I’m very excited about arrived at the farm this week. First is the endomycorrhizal fungi I’ll tell you more about later. The second are the first of our Cascade and Centennial hop rhizomes! They’ll go in our freshly cut beds as soon as the weather permits.

Half Hill Farm is the only farm in Tennessee providing a local source of USDA certified organic hops (certifying April 2013). The Tennessee Department of Agriculture stopped keeping records of Tennessee’s hop production sometime before Prohibition when machine harvesting began concentrating the nation’s hop production in other states. The USDA could find no records of commercial production in Tennessee.

Half Hill Farm is proud to serve the needs of a growing craft beer culture in Tennessee that celebrates an American craft spirit of community, ingenuity, and sustainability. If you are a local craft brewer and want to visit our farm, get in touch, and grow with us!

10 thoughts on “Certified organic hops taking root in Tennessee

  1. Have a home in jamestown,tn would like to start growing hops. Do you have rhizones for sale is it too late to plant this year.

  2. Allan, we may have some available next March, but it is to late to plant or harvest them now. Check back with us. We’d love to help get more hops growing again in Tennessee :)

    • Do you have rhizones I can buy to grow hops in Franklin Co. Tennessee? I’d love to start on my small farm if able.

  3. Love what you guys are doing! I also have an organic farm in Tennessee called Long Hungry Creek farm and are always welcoming visitors because of how great it is to learn and share with others. Would love for you guys to come out and check it out sometime, and I will have to come and check yours out!

    We are actually having a summer solstice festival June 20-23 that is open to whoever wants to come, so please feel free to bring your tent and come by and check out the farm for the weekend!
    bit.ly/11jOvl8

  4. I have been growing hops here in Morgan County, TN for several years now. For the last 4 years I have been putting a bit more effort since I have been brewing up a storm. I think of it as “trellis to mug”. I harvested about 40 pounds of wet hops last year with plans to double this year. I haven’t tried to get any kind of USDA certification. Since the government tries to rule everything else I figure they can stay the hell out of my hopyard. I will be doubling my trellis production this year adding a couple of new varieties. All Cascades to this point. Come check us out. We have a primitive campground that caters primarily to rock climbers but all are welcome (as long as you are nice). Cheers!

    • came across your post in 2013 It is now 2021 are you still growing hops? We are thinking of doing some hops in Union county TN next year would love to talk and see your operation. Thank you for the posting.

  5. I have a small farm in the Cumberland mountain area near Cookeville and I have become interested in growing organic hops. Can you offer any advice.

  6. I am a middle TN grain and cattle farmer I would like to come and check out your hop farm and talk to you about producing hops here in Robertson county Thanks

  7. I planted my first hops in 2015. Got them in the mail from Oregon, they did well the first year 75% lived and even had some blooms. However last year was hard on them, the Chinook came back this year but so far no sign of the Cascade. Where can I buy a root locally rather than having to ship them. I’d rather have a plant grown locally or at least regionally and also support a local or regional grower. Thank you for any info you can share.

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