HARVEST BEGINS IN THE DEEP SOUTH

There's been some early black shank in Georgia (above) but so far it has been manageable, in part because of adoption of a three-pronged control strategy. "Our growers have done a good job of finding resistant varieties and then implementing the three-step control program: Orondis and Ridomil in the transplant water, Presidio at first cultivation and Ridomil at layby cultivation,"says J. Michael Moore, Extension tobacco specialist. "It should be followed on any farm that has a history of black shank."

HARVEST BEGINS IN THE DEEP SOUTH

FLUE-CURED

Harvest has begun in Florida and Georgia. "But just by a few farmers," says Moore. "It will get going in earnest starting next week." It appears to be a good crop so far, he says. "We are finishing topping and sucker control now." Plantings in Georgia and Florida appear to have been reduced 30 to 35 percent, says Moore. "We might wind up with acreage in the 8,250 acre range," he says. He doesn't see much interest in growers in planting beyond their contracts. 

South Carolina: Farmers haven't started harvesting. "Normally, we would expect to start by the first week of July but that isn't happening this year," says William Hardee, S.C. area Extension agronomy agent. "The crop is just not

ready. Due to the dry weather, we are a little behind schedule, and in some areas, we have seen some premature    flowering." Scattered thunder storms accom-panied by winds blew down tobacco, mainly in the GreenSea/ Nichols area. "Wounded roots opened the door for serious bacterial wilt infestation," says Hardee.  Note: Plantings are definitely down in South Carolina. Hardee says acreage--which was around 14,000 acres last season--could be as low as 10,000 this year.

North Carolina: Farmers have experienced extreme heat and drought since early May. "But it's been broken by extreme rainfall in short spurts or isolated thunderstorms that build almost out of nowhere," says Matthew C. Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. "All things considered, we really do have a fine crop with a lot of potential remaining ahead of us."

Rain is in the forecast, and farmers will gladly take it, says Vann. "I'd argue that a good soaking rain that gives us an inch or a little more will finish pushing most of this crop into flowering. 

There have been few widespread issues in N.C. There was some sand blasting and hail early on that resulted in replanting. "Since then, the major issue has been excessive rain, felt hardest in parts of eastern Wake County," Vann says. 

Virginia: In Greensville County, topping will reportedly start soon. First observations of hornworm eggs and larvae feeding on tobacco leaves were made last week.

BURLEY AND DARK

Kentucky: Heavy ongoing rains in June in western Kentucky damaged burley and dark. "One farmer nearby got nine inches of rain in eight days," says Rod Kuegel of Owensboro. "We didn't get quite that much but I expect to have to bush hog sometobacco, which is something we rarely do."  For the area, he thinks there has already been a 20 percent loss.

Tennessee: All but eight percent of the crop had been set by June 30. Four percent had been topped. In Macon County near Nashville, an overa-bundance of rain and storms have halted set-ting and all field work. In Cheatham County, also near Nashville, very little field work could be done last week until Friday or Saturday due to pop-up thunderstorms with heavy rains. In Robertson County, north of Nashville, angular leafspot has appeared in dark fire-cured on several farms.

North Carolina: 91 percent of the burley crop has been planted. Drier weather conditions last week allowed growers to get into fields in Yancey County in the mountains.

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, Kinston, 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. 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.

• July 9, 10 a.m. New Holland, PA. English. Free.
• July 11, 9 a.m. Wylliesburg, VA. English. Includes CPR Certification(Growers only). Registration $25.
• July 11, 9 a.m. Wylliesburg, VA. English / Spanish. Free.
• 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.