In the Hallertau, the world’s most important hop-growing area, it was found that the infestation of a supposed Virus. Politicians want to support the farmers in the fight against the pathogen. Hops-President Schapfler makes it clear in an interview with FOCUS Online, however This is not necessary.

Around 17,000 hectares of Hops in the Hallertau. The cultural landscape in the middle of Bavaria is home to about a third of the hops in the world, with about 36,000 tonnes it is the largest growing area in the world.

Recently, two infections of a virus were detected in Parleiten in Ilmtal disease on hops. Different media made to the infestation to the attention of even politicians showed their concern. Adi Schapfler, President of the Association of German hop growers, has his own opinion. As he said in an interview with FOCUS Online clearly, he keeps the attention and concern is exaggerated.

The SPD wants to try “everything they can to prevent further infections,”

The SPD parliamentary group calls for more support for the hop growers in Bavaria. In a communication from the Deputy Ruth Müller proclaimed, even from the Hallertau: “We must all try to prevent further infections of hop plants. The damage to the Hallertau growing as the main hop-growing region of the world would be enormous and would threaten the existence of many farms!“ Müller calls that immediately the existing monitoring programmes are expanded, and the research is to be intensified.

These requirements, Adi can smile Schapfler only. The President of the Association of German hop growers told FOCUS Online: “This is the typical behavior of members of Parliament who have not dealt with the matter. I don’t understand the excitement at all.“

President: “don’t Understand the excitement at all”

In the case of the disease was not a Virus, but only a Viroid. “This is one hundred times smaller than a real Virus,” explains Schapfler. The pathogen is affection the hops plant, and weakness, in a period of one to two years, you will die slowly. dpa/Armin Weigel image views of a hop garden in front of the tower of the Jacob’s Church.

However, it was in the Hallertau only a very small infestation. In addition, the dissemination of the Viroid with the caution on the farm could contain it.

“The pathogen is only transmitted to other plants when the tractor and cutting tools with the earth wear crop residues from field to field,” explains the expert. “We have to be careful now. On the air, he can not be transferred.“

Viroid was detected in 1988 for the first time in California

The disease is called “Citrus Bark Cracking Virod” due. It has not been established in the year 1988, for the first time in California, in Germany it showed up yet.

“The Viroid is already out of Slovenia,” explains Schapfler. There are many hop farmers suffered since 2007, with declining crop yields. In Germany, there is no talk of it, is, however, in the past. Nevertheless, Schapfler takes the Situation seriously: “We hold ourselves to the exact procedure that claims to the Bavarian state Institute for agriculture us.”

No effect on beer and health

He explains further: “of Course we must be careful that the pathogen is transmitted from field to field. But I’m very optimistic.“

On the beer of the Viroid have no impact. “The harvest that is now a non-issue,” says Schapfler. The Viroid only lead to a few plants die. Health consequences for the people of the infestation of hop plants do not have.

The Association is expecting an average harvest

For this year’s season, there are already first harvest forecasts For the Hallertau, the Association expects nearly 40,000 tons of hops. “It looks as if it would harvest an Average,” says Schapfl. “The weather was actually in the spring, too cold and then in June, July is too hot and dry”. August was, however, ideal. In July, he feared that it would be due to the earlier bad weather, a below-average harvest.

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