WHY VARIETY SELECTION IS THE FIRST STEP IN IMPROVING YOUR PROSPECTS IN 2045

Caption: So many greenhouses were damaged in Georgia and Florida by the 2024 storms that there is reason to think that there won't be enough plants for a full crop in 2025. See below. The yields of flue-cured tobacco in the United States plateaued in 1981 with the introduction of the tobacco variety K326. In the year 2000, tobacco yields began to increase by an average of five pounds per acre per year. You can take advantage of this improved yield situation to better you chances of profit in 2045. Start with variety selection. “We have access to a diversity of genetic material that is superior to what was available even a decade ago,” says Mathew Vann, N.C. Extension tobacco specialist. “Breeders have broken through the yield plateau of the 1980s and have found methods to incorporate better disease resistance along the way." Producers should strongly consider planting modern varieties, he says. In addition, economizing on production practices will frequently pay off. But be very careful about cutting back on practices with a proven positive impact. “It would be quite possible to throw out the baby with the bath water here,” says Vann. Most farmers have developed a good management program already. “You could make one or two small changes without affecting the yield, but the cumulative effect of numerous cuts could be commercial yield reduction.” Rebuilding greenhouses: The powerful storms of 2014—particularly Hurricane Helene—wreaked havoc on greenhouses in Georgia and Florida. Perhaps 25% of the capacity has been lost. But perhaps it can be retrieved--J. Michael Moore, Georgia Extension tobacco specialist, says farmers are vigorously repairing their facilities and expect to have many of them back in service in a few weeks. Note: This damage was not evenly distributed over the flue-cured states, and Extension specialists in N.C. and Va. reported very little barn crushing in their states, although there was plenty of structural damage in other areas.  Speaking of not cutting too many production corners, Moore urges farmers not to cut back much on tomato spotted wilt control. “There isn’t much new in spotted wilt control this season, so you need to make best use of what you have,” he says…There may be some relief from spotted wilt because of the very cold weather we have been having. “The weather may well reduce thrips infestations,” he says. Don’t economize on Admire Pro in the greenhouse before transplanting, he adds. New flue-cured variety: NC 987 is a new hybrid developed by Ramsey Lewis in the tobacco breeding program at N.C. State University. It has consistently exhibited yields above the test average in OVT trials with good, cured leaf quality. The variety is considered to have moderate resistance to black shank but minimal bacterial wilt resistance. DATES TO REMEMBER Ky-Tennessee Tobacco Expo, February 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. CST, Robertson County Fairgrounds, Springfield, Tn. Annual Meeting, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, 10 a.m., EST, Friday, February 7, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh (in connection with Southern Farm Show). Southern Farm Show, February 5 through 7, N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, starting at 9 a.m. EST each day. Admission is free. Breakfast with the Agriculture Commissioner (with Steve Troxler of N.C. February 7, at 7:30 a.m. EST at the N.C. State Fairgrounds Holshouser Bldg. (during Southern Farm Show.)