Tobacco Farmer Newsletter: COULD BURLEY LOSE SOME OF ITS LUSTER DUE TO LOW HUMIDITY?

Dry weather is interfering with taking down and stripping the burley that remains hanging in the barns, like this one in the Kentucky Bluegrass. USDA reported that 76% of the Kentucky crop had been stripped by November 24.

In Tennessee, USDA’s recent production estimate of 4.6 million pounds of burley seems credible, says Mitchell Richmond, Tennessee Extension tobacco specialist. “That would be in the general range of what we have had the last few years,” he says. Farmers had a very good crop in the field, but some may have been delayed in stripping because of very dry conditions that made it difficult to get the leaf in case. “But we have gotten some rains that last couple of weeks.”

Kentuckians are having the same problem. “We had a good crop coming out of the fields but now there is a fear that it might cure up light,” says Joe Cain, the executive director of the new Kentucky Burley & Dark Tobacco Producers Association (KBDTPA). “We have had some dry weather with no fogs or rain.” Most of the crop is in the barn now.

Disappearance of burley has left East Tennessee looking a lot different. It used to be that if you drove through the countryside in the eastern part of Tennessee in the growing season, you would frequently come across burley patches. No more, says Richmond. “We have maybe five counties that are significant in burley, but usually there are just four or five growers in each.” In 1982, there were 4,100 growers in Greene County, which borders North Carolina. This year, there might have been eight.

Letters from Readers

Two Opinions on Why H2A Wage Rates are Unsustainable

The biggest cost on the farm is labor, which appears to be on an upward trend [via H2A program rates]. It is unsustainable. N.C. is approaching $16 for differential wage rates. It seems very interesting that we all have rallied for change, and now when we get change, it includes not one good thing for the farmer. Every aspect of this change has a negative impact for the family farm. How did they change the rules? And why are North Carolinians paying over a dollar an hour more than bordering states South Carolina, Georgia and Florida?

Rodney Jackson, Autryville, N.C.

I feel that the H2A labor cost is the main threat to the future of American tobacco production. I could easily grow many more acres if I brought in migrant labor, but I don’t see how I could generate enough income to make it worth it. We use all local labor now. The H2A program is a problem, financially as well as culturally.

Anthony McGary, Breckinridge County, Ky.

Editor's Note: If you have a thought you would like to share, please feel free to email it to me at chrisbickers@gmail.com.

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.

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.

Tobacco farmer leads Kentucky agriculture: A former burley grower has been elected Agriculture Commissioner in Kentucky. Jonathan Shell (photo) of Lancaster in Garrard County grew up on a burley farm that at its peak produced 200 acres of tobacco. Shell, a Republican, will take office January 2. He succeeds Ryan Quarles, who completed his term limit of eight years after being elected twice.