MAXIMIZE YOUR VARIETIES

 

Challenge for 2024 HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR VARIETIES The number of new, improved varieties has drastically increased in the last few years, particularly for flue-cured. Now, Extension specialists recommend that you treat these varieties like an arsenal in 2024 and arm yourself with as many that fit your needs. There could be several. In North Carolina, there will be eight to 10 varieties that will each account for five percent or more of the total crop this year, says Matthew Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. “High yield and a good disease package will still be important, but some varieties may be chosen mainly for agronomic characteristics.” Vann thinks NC 960 could be a frequent choice this season due to the good experiences of farmers who planted it last year, which was effectively its first season. In Georgia, J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist, thinks NC 960 could work out well also, along with NC 1226, thanks to their outstanding black shank resistance (see the January I issue of TFN.) He suggested then that disease resistant varieties might be a better choice than chemicals for control of diseases this year. In the Southside of Virginia, Stephen Barts, Extension agent in Pittsylvania County, Va., says PVH 2310 and K326 may fit in where rotations are good. In South Carolina, William Hardee, Extension tobacco specialist, says variety decisions should be made on a "per field" basis. He hopes that his farmers have utilized good record keeping to keep track of problem fields. He also recommended spreading the crop throw out by maturity. REPORT FROM OVERSEAS BRAZIL: Weather has reduced flue-cured yield 20.5%. All tobacco-growing areas in the south of Brazil were severely affected by weather conditions, according to a mid December report from the Kohltrade leaf company. In addition to hail, excessive rain has diminished quality. There are spots on the leaves due to the roots drowning in excess rain. Farmers were forced to harvest wet fields, and as a consequence, limited curing capacity will produce a higher percentage of mahoganies. Among the two major types: Flue-cured--Planted area is up, but the average yield in southern Brazil is estimated to be 20.5 percent lower compared to average crops. Weather patterns are not expected to get better as the season ends, so total green flue-cured volume should be around 475,000 tons. Burley--Weather conditions like the flue-cured area experienced are causing plants with weaker rooting systems to drop in the fields. This has forced farmers to collect and hang underdeveloped plants. Many farmers report leaves are rotting in the barns. The negative impact on green volume is over 20%, and it is estimated that Brazilian production will be around 39,000 tons. Lower yields will affect factory performance. Report on the early market: Small traders had begun purchasing the new crop by mid December at an inflated price. The overall quality of the lower stalk is reportedly poor due to the frequent inclusion of house-burned leaves, which farmers did not appear to be separating out in the grading process….Reason for optimism?: In Brazil, rainy crops often result in a good-quality upper stalk. That may happen this year--alkaloid tests in early areas are showing lower nicotine levels, as was hoped…In December, some companies began purchasing flue-cured, while others began purchasing burley as early as November. The cost of green products is expected to rise by 5 to 8%.   DATES TO REMEMBER Southern Farm Show, January 31 through February 2, N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, starting at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is free. Annual Meeting, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, 10 a.m., Friday, February 2, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. A GAP training session will take place immediately afterward. GAP TRAINING MEETINGS: For information, call GAP at 865.622.4606, or email arochkes@gapconnections.com or contact your local Extension office. All meetings are in English.

THE SEEDING SEASON BEGINS

 

Seeding trays in Georgia last week. SEEDING SEASON BEGINS Some greenhouses have already been seeded in Georgia. But J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist, considers now is too early, by quite a bit. “I prefer waiting till later in January to supply transplants after April 7, after the end of the first flight of thrips, which has proven an effective strategy for re-ducing tomato spotted wilt. Patience will definitely work in your favor.”   How to cut greenhouse heat: You may be able to cut the heating bill for your greenhouse by delaying seeding until after the coldest weather of January and still have plants ready for transplanting in early April, says Moore. “You can reduce your gas bill significantly this way,” he says. “When you need heat, you need it, but there is certainly no need to heat more than necessary.”   Issues with Orondis for black shank control in Georgia in 2023? “There were instances of injury after application of the premix in the transplant water,” says Moore. One way of lessening the problem: “Apply Orondis and Ridomil in the transplant water as the co-pack of the products rather than a premix,” he says.   Varieties versus chemicals? It might be time to rely more on black shank varieties than on chemical control. In Georgia, two relatively new flue-cured varieties might help. “NC 1226 and NC 960 have outstanding black shank resistance and could fit in pretty well here,” says Moore.   Don’t get ahead of yourself with your greenhouse fertilizer. Some farmers have gotten in the habit of making their initial greenhouse application as late as four weeks after seeding, says Matthew Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. “Excellent transplants are best obtained from an initial ap­plication of fertilizer to supply 100 to 150 ppm of nitrogen within seven days after seeding plus a second application to supply 100 ppm nitrogen four weeks later,” he says.   Will broadleaf bow out in the Black Patch of western Kentucky and north central Tennessee? At the peak of Connecticut broadleaf planting a few years ago, the Black Patch produced perhaps 1,000 acres of the type, says Andy Bailey, Kentucky/Tennessee Extension dark specialist. Acreage last year might have only reached 300 acres. Overall, the yield was good for this type, says Bailey, from at least 1,800 pounds per acre to perhaps 2,000, for a total of perhaps 600 thousand pounds. Unfortunately, the percentage of wrappers was low, and profitability on this type is completely dependent on the amount of wrapper/binder grades produced. Growers producing Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco should strive for at least 50% wrapper/binder grades, but many growers got much less than that. “I have been told by many that the 2023 crop is the last Connecticut crop they will plant.” DATES TO REMEMBER 51st Tobacco Workers' Conference, January 15 – 18, at the Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, go to the official website at www.twconference.com. Annual Meeting, KT Burley & Dark Tobacco Producer Association /The Council for Burley Tobacco, January 18, at Sloan Convention Center. Bowling Green, Kentucky. 9 a.m.--3:45 p.m. Central Time. Southern Farm Show, January 31 through February 2, N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, starting at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is free. Annual Meeting, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, 10 a.m., Friday, February 2, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. GAP TRAINING MEETINGS BEGAN THIS WEEK. For information, call GAP at 865.622.4606, or email arochkes@gapconnections.com or contact your local Extension office. All meetings are in English.