Too much water to grow. Cali is using up their water supply and Hops require far more than they return. So, they are looking to utilize the land for better crops.
Perhaps hops should be farmed in areas where the natural climate is conducive to growing hops.
Growing hops in California makes about as much sense as growing agave in Siberia.
live where the FOOD IS! YOU LIVE IN A DESERT!! UNDERSTAND THAT? YOU LIVE IN A F***ING DESERT!! NOTHING GROWS HERE! NOTHING'S GONNA GROW HERE! Come here, you see this? This is sand. You know what it's gonna be 100 years from now? IT'S GONNA BE SAND!! YOU LIVE IN A F***ING DESERT!