A SLOW START THANKS TO RAIN

  Above: A Kentucky farmer plants burley in the Bluegrass in late May. A SLOW START THANKS TO RAIN It’s been a very wet start to the season in Tennessee. “Rainfall has been above average and spaced out enough to keep fields too wet for transplanting,” says Mitchell Richmond, Tennessee Extension tobacco specialist. Last week it was wide open on any field that was dry enough to plant, he says. “But we are a week or so behind normal. We are struggling to find a window to get the crop planted.” Through Friday, Richmond estimated that 10% to 15% of the crop had been set out. “It might be a little more but definitely less than 20%.” In Kentucky, planting is definitely behind schedule. “It’s basically been wet,” says Joe Cain, Executive Director for the Kentucky Burley & Dark Tobacco Producers Association (KBDTPA). “A lot still needs to be set. You still see fields with standing water.” Although late last week saw frantic planting activity by farmers, that may not be possible this week. Weather forecasts predict a chance of rainfall every day this week till Saturday, and it was raining Monday. “We are just waiting for conditions to be right,” says Cain. “Tobacco setting, at 36 percent, is well behind both last year and the five-year average,” said NASS. “Both corn and tobacco are rated as mostly good condition despite recent weather setbacks.” Organizations blend in Kentucky: The Council for Burley Tobacco voted in March to come under the administration of KBDTPA. But it will maintain a separate identity and will continue to collect grower checkoffs and tags. The two organizations now share largely similar directorial boards and officers and will hold joint board meetings. Note: Kara Keeton, longtime executive of CBT, has left the organization. There’s not been much dry weather in the Black Patch in recent weeks but growers have been able to make some progress. “During the few dry days we have had, we got a lot set,” says Andy Bailey, Kentucky-Tennessee Extension dark specialist. “As of today (June 3), I would say 40% is set, maybe 50%. That is better than two weeks ago, but we are still behind where we would like to be.” Now, there is reason for optimism. “Weather forecasts say Thursday and Friday are likely to be dry,” he says. “I am sure our farmers will be ready to take advantage of that or any opportunity they get to plant.” Blank shank showing up in Georgia. That should be no surprise with the wet spring, says J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist. Tomato spotted wilt has also made its appearance—Moore estimated that about 25% of plants across the state are infected. There is no reason to push the panic button yet on either disease. The popularity of KT 222 keeps on growing. The nearly new burley variety appears headed for planting on 70% of acreage in Tennessee this season. It’s key strength: Very good resistance to both strains of black shank. “Growers in the burley belt seemed to like performance of KT 222 in terms of yield last year,” says Richmond. Plantings report by selected states from USDA-NASS as of June 3: (Flue) GA*—100%; NC—91%; VA--92. (Burley) KY--36% (includes Dark); NC--34%; VA 75%. (Dark) VA 69%. *Extension Service estimate. TOBACCO TOURS IN JUNE:  The South Carolina Tobacco Tour is scheduled for July 9 and 10. It will kick off with check-in at the Hotel Florence on July 9 from 3 to 6 PM. The first stop will be at Pee Dee Research and Education Center Pavilion at 7:45 AM on July 10. The tour will end after lunch near Stevens Farms in Loris around 12 PM. The Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour will begin with a Kick-Off Supper at H&H Farms, 1151 Evergreen Church Rd., Cobbtown, GA, near Metter, on Monday evening, and end at lunch on June 18 at Live Oak FL. Go to www.georgiatobacco.com information and directions. REPORT FROM OVERSEAS: Malawi production up: The Tobacco Commission (TC) of Malawi is projecting a 17% increase in volume from the current season compared to what the country’s farmers produced in 2023. But it could have been more, according to the website Malawi 24. “The latest report attributes the decrease in the projected production (in January) from 146 million to 140 million kilograms due to prolonged dry spells in most parts of the country and poor establishment and performance of some dark fire-cured tobacco in the Northern region,” said a spokesman for the Commission. Facebook X Instagram