A FIVE PERCENT SMALLER FLUE-CURED CROP?

A flue-cured field in Wilson, N.C.

USDA PROJECTION:

Flue-cured production in the United States has been projected at 320 million pounds by USDA. That would be five percent less than in 2018 and the lowest production for this type on record. Area harvested, projected at 159,000 acres, is 20 percent below last year and 6,000 acres less than USDA projected in March. Yield for the 2019 flue-cured is forecast at 2,015 pounds per acre, 303 pounds above last year. USDA will estimate production of burley and other types and flue-cured again in August.

Field reports:

FLUE-CURED

In Virginia, in Greensville County in the southeast corner of the state, almost all tobacco has been topped, the county agent reports. Two rain events last week brought much needed moisture. In neighboring Brunswick County, storms last weekend brought wind and spotty showers. The rain helped, but more is needed 

In North Carolina, a good rain is also needed in much of the Piedmont. The high temperatures and  humidity are leading to stress, says Paul Westfall, Extension agent in Granville County. "Tobacco is looking good in some areas, not so good in others." Topping and sucker control is under way, he adds. 

In South Carolina, 100 percent of the crop has been planted, 45 percent has been topped, but none harvested. In Georgia, all has been planted, 68 percent has been topped and roughly seven percent has been harvested.

BURLEY AND DARK

In Kentucky, the crop is 95 percent set with 12 percent in bloom.

In Tennessee, all but seven percent of the crop has been set, and nine percent topped. In Cheatham County, just west of Nashville, pop up showers, producing heavy rain at times, reportedly kept most or the field work to a minimum last week. Some tobacco was topped and sucker control applied. In Wilson County, just east of Nashville, spotty rains across the county caused feast for some growers and famine for others. "Feast folks cannot get field work done, and famine folks need rain," said Extension agent A. Ruth Correll.

In Virginia, Grayson County in the Blue Ridge mountains had yet to see a significant dry spell of the type you expect most years by July 8. But it reportedly has not been excessively wet, meaning that growing conditions have been good.

In western North Carolina: 96 percent of the burley crop had been set by July 8. Weather conditions last week were reportedly on the warm side with slightly above average temperatures. Scattered rain showers and afternoon thunderstorms limited some field activities in Yancey County, on the Tennessee line--most areas receiving between 1.75 to three inches of rain for the week.

In other tobacco news:

Another foreign competitor! The southwest African country of Namibia is cooperating with a Chinese company in a proposed joint venture to create a 10,000-hectare tobacco-producing operation in the country's northeast. To put that in perspective, that level of plantings would be about equal to what South Carolina and Georgia together planted last year. The venture has obtained some but not all of the government approvals it will need for the project, which will also produce corn. The type to be grown has not been specified but is assumed to be flue-cured, since that is what China has typically imported. Whatever the type, the tobacco will be  100 percent exported to China.

DATES TO REMEMBER

• July 22, 8:30 a.m. N.C. Organic Commodities Field Day. Ends 12:30 p.m., followed by lunch. Cunningham Research Station, 200 Cunningham Rd., Kinston, N.C.
• July 23, 9 a.m. Tobacco Tour-Field Day, Upper Coastal Plain Research, 2811 Nobles Mill Pond Rd., Rocky Mount, N.C. Ends approximately 3 p.m.   Register at  ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ex791rQ0C8LZ5dj.
• August 13, 9 a.m. The Kentucky Burley Tobacco Industry Tour will be held at the University of Kentucky Spindletop Research Farm in Lexington. It will end about 3 p.m. Please note: The event will last one day only.

GAP Farm Safety & Compliance Events:

GAP Connections will host a number of Farm Safety & Compliance Training Events this summer. Attendees will rotate through interactive stations as they learn about safety and compliance topics required by the GAP Program. Registration is free except that at some, there will also be an opportunity to earn CPR & AED certification during the events at a registration fee of $25. You must pre-register. For more details, visit www.gapconnections.com or call GAP Connections at (865) 622-4606. Dates and places appear below.

• August  5, 5 p.m. Danville, KY. English. Includes CPR Certification (Growers only). $25.
• August 5, 5 p.m. Danville, KY. English. Free.
• August 7, 9 a.m. Hardinsburg, KY. English. Free.
• August 7, 9 a.m. Hardinsburg, KY. English. $25.
• August 7, 2 p.m. Hardinsburg, KY. English. Free.
• August 7, 2 p.m. Hardinsburg, KY. English. Includes CPR Certification(Growers only). $25.
• August 9, 9 a.m. Gallatin, TN. English. Free.
• August 9, 9 a.m. Gallatin, TN. English. Includes CPR Certification (Growers only). $25.
• August 9, 2 p.m. Gallatin, TN. English. Free.
• August 9, 2 p.m. Gallatin, TN. English. Includes CPR Certification (Growers only). $25.