BLUE MOLD BREAKS OUT IN GEORGIA GREENHOUSES

FLORIDA-GEORGIA: Blue mold showed up on flue-cured plants in two south Georgia greenhouses in March. The infestations appear to be under control, and the two new fungicides Presidio and Orondis should help any future outbreaks. But Georgia Extension agronomist J. Michael Moore notes something strange. "We went 10 years without any blue mold, but now we have had it two years in a row?" Likely factor: This was "the year without a winter" in Georgia, and that may have created favorable conditions for development of blue mold. ..Transplanting is getting going. "Many plants in Florida and Georgia will soon be ready for transplanting," says Moore. "A few farmers began transplanting in the middle of last week, but this week and the next will be when it really gets going"...There continues to be a shortage of Telone II, and delivery of what is available is being delayed. "This creates a great opportunity for the new non-fumigant nematicide Nimitz from Adama," Moore says.

KENTUCKY: Is dark tobacco in serious danger from federal regulation? A federal regulation now being considered could have a disastrous effect on the marketing of smokeless tobacco products in this country. "This proposed rule would have a devastating economic impact on dark tobacco growers and businesses," Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles said. "It would have the effect of banning the sale of smokeless tobacco in the U.S. Quarles asked Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to direct the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw the proposal because FDA had not accurately estimated the economic impact of the rule and did not propose a standard that was "technically achievable." The main problem is that the proposal would limit the N-Nitrosonornicotine level in finished smokeless tobacco products to one part per million. This limitation probably cannot be met, Quarles said.

NORTH CAROLINA--In Granville County, N.C., Extension agent Paul Westfall said cold weather has affected tobacco greenhouses there, "especially those without good air distribution from heat sources." Diseases are showing up due to high humidity and low ventilation, he said. "Several growers have reported salt damage to seedlings." In Greene County, N.C., tobacco transplants look very good in the greenhouse, says Roy Thagard, Extension agent. "I do wish we had more moisture in fields. I'm always nervous when planting season starts out dry."

VIRGINIA--The outlook appears good for Virginia flue-cured and dark fire-cured, says Bill Scruggs of the Virginia Department of Agriculture. "We are getting some much-needed rain," he says. Contract volume for conventional flue-cured appears about the same as last year. But the organic volume is down... After a period of inactivity, the Virginia tobacco growers association has resumed operating. An annual meeting is scheduled for tonight (March 28) in Halifax, with new president Jay Jennings of Chase City, Va., presiding. Watch for a report in a future issue of TFN.

KENTUCKY: Is dark tobacco in serious danger from federal regulation? A federal regulation now being considered could have a disastrous effect on the marketing of smokeless tobacco products in this country. "This proposed rule would have a devastating economic impact on dark tobacco growers and businesses," Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles said. "It would have the effect of banning the sale of smokeless tobacco in the U.S." Quarles asked Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to direct the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw the proposal because FDA had not accurately estimated the economic impact of the rule and did not propose a standard that was "technically achievable." The main problem is that the proposal would limit the N-Nitrosonornico- tine level in finished smokeless tobacco products to one part per million. This limitation probably cannot be met, Quarles said.

A new leader for export promotion:  Hank Mozingo (right) was elected President of Tobacco Associates at the organization's recent annual meeting in Wilson, N.C., on March 1. He had in recent years served as Vice President. He replaces Kirk Wayne, who retired at the meeting after 47 years of service with Tobacco Associates. The organization is exclusively devoted to the promotion of U.S. flue-cured exports. Mozingo will work from the organization's office in Raleigh.

GAP TRAINING EVENTS

TENNESSEE (Burley)

• April 6, 6:30 PM. Appalachian Fair Grounds, Building 1, Lakeview St., Johnson City TN. Contact Anthony Shelton at ashelton@utk.edu or 423 753 1680.