On-Farm Composting of Hop Waste Biomass: Operational Deviations and Compost Quality Outcomes Across Six Hop Farms

On-farm composting of hop waste biomass (leaves and stems remaining after cone harvest) was assessed on six hop farms over two composting seasons. Piles were established immediately after harvest (early September) in 2023 (four farms) and 2024 (six farms). Farmers aimed to follow established guidelines; however, operational inconsistencies (turning frequency, pile mass, moisture management, and timing of pile covering) produced measurable variability in compost quality