Hop-growing area falling in Czech Republic - Prague Daily Monitor
Hop field renovation is costly, hop growers lack money and subsidies are missing, said Rosa.

"Areas planted with hops were smaller 135 years ago. In 1871, there were 5,300 ha of hop fields in Bohemia and areas have expanded since that time," Rosa said.

In 1993, there were 10,547 ha of hop fieds, the highest figure, and since that time the hop-growing area has declined by 48 percent.

More cars and less hops growing? Has it come to this? Weren't we happier under the communists? Well, no (at least I wasn't). But still disturbing news given the importance of beer to Czech culture. And it's not just the beer. Thousands of students used to earn good money (or at least some money) going to chmelová bridáda (summer hops picking) or na chmel, az we used to say. The first Czech rock'n'roll musical 'Starci na chmelu' was situated at a hops picking campaign.