CHICAGO (AP) — The hop farming craze has yet to fully take root in Illinois even though Chicago’s craft beer scene is growing.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Michigan will have planted more than 800 acres of the crop by the end of 2016, while Illinois only grows 30 acres of hops.
Hop farms have popped up throughout the Midwest as the craft brewing trend has increased the demand for the crop.
But unlike in Michigan, there’s no state university-coordinated effort to break down potential business barriers. There’s also no research underway to give Illinois farmers a competitive edge by determining the best varieties of hops to grow.
Additionally, hop farming typically yields more revenue per acre than other commodity crops, but it requires significant investment to begin.