Despite heat PROSPECTS STILL GOOD IN GA/FLA

b>> A crowd of more than 70 participants turned out for the 2024 Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour on June 17, 18 and 19. They saw a crop that still has promise. But there have been some problems, said Georgia Extension tobacco specialist J. Michael Moore. “In places there were straight line winds that knocked over some plants.” Recent rainfall has broken a month long drought just as growers dodge showers to apply sucker control materials..... The news on disease is threatening. “It’s a bad year for tomato spotted wilt,” Moore says. “Up to 30% of our plants are showing symptoms of the disease.” He expects growers will lose 10 to 15% of their yield. A very mild winter and an abundance of alternate hosts may be among the reasons for the high infestation. As if that isn’t enough, black shank is showing up..... Plants have been very irregular in height in Georgia during the dry weather, making timing of sucker control stressful. Growers are encouraged to remove flowers early and control suckers in a timely manner. This is certainly a season when you want as many pounds in the leaf as you can get, says Moore..... Other tours and research days coming up:.....The South Carolina Tobacco Tour, beginning with checkin from 3 to 6 July 9 at the Hotel Florence in Florence. The tour begins at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center Pavilion at 7:45 AM on July 10. Ends after lunch near Loris..... --The NC Tobacco Field Day, June 17, 9 AM to 12 PM at Cunningham Research Station, 200 Cunningham Rd, Kinston, NC..... --The KY Corn, Soybean, Tobacco Field Day, at the UK Research & Education Center, 1205 Hopkinsville St., Princeton KY, July 23, 8 AM. For more information--https://wkrec. ca.uky.edu/ events/corn-soybean-tobacco-field-day-0..... Planting is nearly complete for burley and dark: According to USDA, the Kentucky crop (all types) is 95% set with 3% blooming. In Tennessee tobacco (all types) is 91% transplanted with 1% topped. And in North Carolina, burley is 83% planted..... It’s dry in burley and dark country too: Portions of the Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky are now considered abnormally dry, says USDA, and Tennessee experienced very hot and dry weather last week with minimal rainfall..... Planting is done in South Carolina, Georgia/ Florida and the flue-cured counties of North Carolina. It is hot and dry there too-- Tobacco and vegetable fields without irrigation in Georgia were reported to be in desperate need of rain, said USDA, although the southern half of Georgia received some much-needed rain last week, with areas on the border with Florida receiving the most precipitation..... Splitworm alert: Be on the lookout for tobacco splitworm, says Lorena Lopez, N.C. Extension entomologist. None have been spotted in North Carolina so far, but the weather conditions could set the stage for an outbreak. Splitworm larvae tunnel between the upper and lower surfaces of tobacco leaves, starting from the bottom leaves. Management is difficult. Alert your local Extension agent if you think you have them..... Among other pests that could be a problem, she says:..... There are instances of tomato spotted wilt virus, especially in Johnston County, but the historical 10% incidence has not been surpassed. Tobacco streak virus, which is not often a problem in North Carolina, has made an appearance. It is hard to differentiate from tomato spotted wilt virus. Hornworm was on the increase, but has been reduced after topping. Lopez, a native of Colombia,is new to the NC Extension tobacco team. She joined the N.C. Extension Service and the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology as an assistant extension professor five months ago. She came to the United States to study entomology at the University of Florida, where she earned a doctorate. Lopez’s goal is to empower growers with the tools and knowledge to tackle pest challenges effectively, while promoting environmental sustainability in their agricultural practices.