PLANTS ENJOY A MILD WINTER SEASON

Plants growing in a Kentucky greenhouse in a file shot by Christopher Bickers.

 In North Carolina, most farmers have finished seeding their green-houses, says Matthew Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. “We have had a good growing season with few negative issues. As early as this crop was seeded, and if conditions hold, we may see earlier planting dates across the state.”   This situation is not entirely benign. It may affect the pressure from pests. “We didn't have the normal winter weather to help control pests that we usually do,” says Vann. “In particular, since we didn’t get hard weather to kill thrips in native vegetation, we could see increased infestation of tomato spotted wilt virus later.”   You can get valuable information on thrips and TSWV intensity from the web link “Tobacco Thrips Flight and TSWV Intensity Predictor,” available from the North Carolina State Climate Office.    In Georgia, plants are growing quite rapidly, says J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist. “Everyone is thinking about going to the field a little early.” It still is considered wise to transplant after April 7 to avoid exposure to thrips and subsequent tomato spotted wilt virus.  Farmers in the two Deep South states will set out every plant produced in the two states this year. But that may not be enough, says Moore. “There were some later contracts that were signed too late for greenhouses to be seeded.” Transplanting will likely get going in earnest in March in Florida and the last week of March in Georgia, Moore says. “We would sure like transplanting to be complete by May 1.” The shortage of Admire Pro is definitely a concern for Georgians and Floridians, says Moore. He advises seeking out generic imidacloprid, which will give comparable results if you use it according to label instructions. A database for Kentucky tobacco farmers: Joe Cain, Executive vice president for the Kentucky Burley & Dark Tobacco Producers Assn., says you can gain membership into the new association by writing him at kytobaccogrowers@outlook.com. He will be particularly grateful if you would help him set up a database of growers by including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and your type(s) of tobacco. Growers of all types of tobacco, including wrappers, are eligible to join. “And not just growers are invited,” Cain says. “The association will take as members plant producers and seed producers and other related industries.   There has been some interest in the association from ‘new’ tobacco growers, says Cain. But they are not exactly new—they are getting back into burley because barns and equipment are readily available.   The Kentucky association accepts members from other states, says Cain. So far, there are members from Southern Indiana and Tennessee, with smaller representations from Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.   UPCOMING GAP MEETINGS o Mon Mar 13, 6 pm CST, Glasgow, KY. o Tue Mar 14, 9 am CST, Murray, KY. o Tue Mar 14, 6 pm CST, Lafayette, TN. o Tue Mar 21, 9 am EST, Quarryville, PA. o Wed Mar 22, 9 am EST, New Holland, PA.