There are few bright spots in production among the various types, according to USDA-NASS' September projection. The only exceptions: dark fire-cured, which appears to have enjoyed a modest increase over 2021 of about four percent and Pennsylvania seedleaf, which is way up at 50 percent. (But note that burley in Pennsylvania is down more than 50 percent.) Like last month, flue-cured is down and burley is way down, 7 percent and 23 percent respectively. The USDA August Crop Report estimates production (shown here by type with percentage change in each state from a year ago) as follows:
Flue-cured - North Carolina--240 million pounds, down 5%.
- Virginia--27.5 million pounds, down 17%.
- Georgia--12.6 million pounds, down 12.5%.
- South Carolina--12 million pounds, down 12%.
- All U.S.--292.1 million pounds, down 7%.
Burley - Kentucky--58.9 million pounds, down 3%.
- Tennessee--4.35 million pounds, unchanged.
- Pennsylvania--3.08 million pounds, down 56%.
- Virginia--500,000 pounds, down 34%.
- North Carolina--320,000 pounds, down 18%.
- All U.S.--67.15 million pounds, down 23%.
Fire-cured - Kentucky--31,680 up 8%.
- Tennessee--18,270,000 pounds, down 1%.
- Virginia--357,345,000 pounds, down 3%.
- All U.S.--50,295, up 4%.
Dark air-cured - Kentucky--14,640 down 9%.
- Tennessee--8,400 down 6%.
- All U.S.--23 million pounds, down 8%;
Pennsylvania Seedleaf - Pennsylvania--9.435 million pounds, up 50%.
Southern Maryland - Pennsylvania—460,000 pounds, down 40%;
Eastern N.C. crop catching up: Just a month ago, it seemed that a very late flue-cured crop was quite likely, especially in the Eastern Belt of North Carolina, says Matthew Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. Now, the crop in N.C. appears to have caught up to some degree in the East and the Piedmont as well. Anything can happen but the concern about losses from an early frost has substantially decreased, Vann says. “It looks like we will have this crop in the barn by the time frost should normally hit”...Lugs and cutters are selling fairly well now, but the quality of those grades was held back in some places by the heat and drought in May and June, Vann adds. Few leaf grades have gone to market yet, and farmers are picking the leaf and loading it in barns just as fast as they can. “The logistics of 'putting in' may be the big challenge from here to the end of harvest,” he says.
Harvest winding down in Georgia: "We are about ready to clean up and get ready for next year," says J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist. "I know of only two growers who are still getting green tobacco out of the field." Farmers seem happy with their marketing experience so far. "For good tobacco, the price is good," Moore says. One disappointment: There had been some hope that some Chinese contracts would find their way to Georgia last week. Watch for further details in the next issue of TFN.
Burley harvest is running ahead of recent years. In Tennessee, according to NASS-USDA, 77 percent of the crop had been cut by September 18, compared to the five-year average f0r that date 0f 74 percent. In Kentucky, 75 percent had been cut by the same date, compared to the five-year average of 72 percent...Correction: In the last issue, a typographical error mistakenly said the Kentucky burley average yield this season was 6,200 pounds per acre. The number should have been 3,200.
OVERSEAS REPORT
Zimbabwe Record plantings are expected in the coming season based on the amount of seed that has been sold. As of the beginning of September, at least 925 kilograms (kg) of seed had been sold, according to the Zimbabwe Tobacco Research Board. That is enough to plant 460,000 acres, which would be the largest area ever planted in Zimbabwe. Planting began on September 1.
Brazil Production dropped nearly 11 percent last season: Tobacco growers in southern Brazil (where most of the country's tobacco is produced) grew only 560.18 million kg in 2021–2022. That is 10.9 percent less than in the previous growing season, according to the Brazilian Tobacco Growers Association (AFUBRA). Industry representatives expect that growers in southern Brazil will cultivate a slightly larger tobacco area for the 2022–2023 crop.
WHAT FLUE-CURED QUOTA OWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT AGAINST STABILIZATION
If you are a producer of flue-cured tobacco or are the heir of a producer of flue-cured tobacco, a lawsuit now being settled between the Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation and growers could mean some money for you. But you have to produce documentation that you are the original owner or the rightful owner of the F.C. Membership Number. Every grower who participated in the price support program operated by Stabilization had a number. Presenting it is a complicated process, so for more information, see the following websites.
Editor's Note: I will try to provide more information on this subject in the next issue of TFN, scheduled for mailing around October 1. I don't know a lot about this development but if you want to contact me, feel free to. But my telephone service is out for a week, so reach me by email if you want at chrisbickers@ gmail.com--Chris Bickers.
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