Overview of Burley Tobacco Production in the USA

Dr. Gary PalmerDr. Gary Palmer

University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky

Good Agricultural Practices

Produced in a timely mannerProduced in a timely manner Good management essentialGood management essential

Use of agronomically sound Use of agronomically sound practicespractices

Economically viable returnsEconomically viable returns High yield per acreHigh yield per acre

Reduce Environmental Impact of Reduce Environmental Impact of ProductionProduction

What Will the Term Quality Mean?

Desirable for buyerDesirable for buyer Contracted amount suppliedContracted amount supplied Cured properlyCured properly Free of foreign materialFree of foreign material Low in undesirable elementsLow in undesirable elements

NornicotineNornicotine NitrosaminesNitrosamines nitrate & nitritesnitrate & nitrites Low pesticide residueLow pesticide residue

• No unlabeled pesticides No unlabeled pesticides • No excessive residues of labeled chemicalsNo excessive residues of labeled chemicals

Timely Production

Seeding so that plants will Seeding so that plants will be ready to set on timebe ready to set on time Watch weather reports to Watch weather reports to

reduce gas expensereduce gas expense Controlling environment to Controlling environment to

minimize temperature & minimize temperature & disease related damagedisease related damage

Disease preventionDisease prevention To reduce delaysTo reduce delays To improve transplant To improve transplant

quality quality

Terramaster for pythium control

Transplant on time Can improve yield Can improve yield Reduce disease Reduce disease

incidenceincidence Blue moldBlue mold Virus complexVirus complex

Some curing Some curing concernsconcerns

What’s the difference between a good farmer and a bad farmer?

Some Varieties Will Be Dropped Screening is expensive and older varieties would cost Screening is expensive and older varieties would cost

too much to justify upkeep too much to justify upkeep Good alternatives are available to replace most older Good alternatives are available to replace most older

varietiesvarieties A good disease package will be essentialA good disease package will be essential Use of some varieties may dropUse of some varieties may drop

14 x L814 x L8• High managementHigh management• Tendency to initiate suckers earlyTendency to initiate suckers early

KY 907KY 907• Lodging & qualityLodging & quality

TN 86TN 86• QualityQuality

Public varieties may not be screenedPublic varieties may not be screened Make sure that the variety you use has been screened Make sure that the variety you use has been screened

Burley Tobacco Variety TrialAcross 8 Locations – 4 Grades

455 410 454 420 476 448 402 442 436 444

1070 1098 1124 1116 1124 1098 1101 1094 1206 1008

1095 1054 946 999 1051 923 1001 1019 959984

428 430 447 456 491452 472 478 459 507

305930343140299029903048 2976 29442971 2921

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Yie

ld k

g/h

a

Flyings Lugs Leaf Tips

Locations: Clinton, Henry, Taylor (3), Trimble(2) & Wayne Counties

Nitrogen Use

Optimum levelsSoil Level of N Lbs. N/ac

High 150-200Medium 200-250Low 250-300

Nitrogen Changes in Competing Countries

BrazilBrazil Changes

Rate • From 250 – 300 kg/ha• To 160 kg/ha

Type • From Ammonium Nitrate & Urea• To Soda Potash (100% Nitrate

Nitrogen)

Effects of Nitrogen Source on Burley Yield

Lincoln Co. – Dan Cooper Farm

483 507 547 522 548 430 478

1252 1239 1251 11601368

1286 1303

617 614 638606

727581

710

90

203

114

2622491229726422287243523592353

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

556 U 333 U 300 AN

750 AN 450 AN 300 AN

450 AN 645 CN

450 AN 625 SN

450 AN 714 14-0-14

LSD

kg/ha

Flyings Lug Leaf

Number =kg/ha, U = Urea, AN = Ammonium Nitrate, CN=Calcium Nitrate, SN = Sodium Nitrate14-0-14 is a calcium & potassium nitrate mix. Initial nitrogen was broadcast with addition sidedressed

Disease Management

Crop RotationCrop Rotation PreventionPrevention Conservation Conservation

TillageTillage Utilization of Utilization of

disease free disease free landland

Black Shank: Rotation Resistant Varieties Ridomil Sanitation

Blue MoldPreventative

AcrobatActigard

Avoid ShadeLow wet areasInfected Transplants

Controlling Red Aphids

AdmireAdmire PlatinumPlatinum

Pesticide Concerns

Illegal pesticidesIllegal pesticides Could void contractCould void contract

Indiscriminant use of labeled Indiscriminant use of labeled pesticidespesticides Endosulfan (Golden Leaf)Endosulfan (Golden Leaf) MHMH

Recommended Sucker Control

14 L/ha MH + 4.68 L/ha of either 14 L/ha MH + 4.68 L/ha of either PrimePrime+ + or Butralinor Butralin

Coarse NozzlesCoarse Nozzles Full cone spray patternFull cone spray pattern Raindrop particle sizeRaindrop particle size Size depend on speed of Size depend on speed of

application equipmentapplication equipment

Average MH Residues by State1997-2003

0102030405060708090

100110120

ppm MH

1997 71.21 57.32 65.04

1998 79.47 48.48 69.66

1999 80.13 45.07 71.54

2000 48.4 44.13 45.61

2001 38.66 23.98 32.33

2002 38.2 33.93 34.79

2003 35.21 22.58 29.93

KY TN ALL

Limited sample numbers on all but KY and TN 2000 - 2003 values are from warehouse sales only

Consistent Supply

Topping

Top can vary by companyTop can vary by company May change in the future May change in the future

Top to 23-24 leavesTop to 23-24 leaves For companies looking for more tipsFor companies looking for more tips

Topping height can influence other factors Topping height can influence other factors Leaf spreadLeaf spread Cured leaf colorCured leaf color Root developmentRoot development

Nicotine levelsNicotine levels Disease incidenceDisease incidence

Harvest date

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

2 3 4 5 6

Weeks After Topping

Yie

ld k

g/h

a

Harvest mature tobacco Harvest mature tobacco Usually at 4 weeks after Usually at 4 weeks after

toppingtopping Weather may delayWeather may delay Late maturing varieties may Late maturing varieties may

need more timeneed more time

Quality

Yield

Harvest Problems Avoid GreenAvoid Green SunburnSunburn MudMud

Curing Burley Tobacco

Curing Problem

Low humidity/high temperatureDrying, not a cure

Low humidity/satisfactory temperatureVariegated, piebald or green tobacco

Low or high humidity/low temperatureGreen tobacco

High humidity/high temperatureHouse burn, microbial growth and

excessive weight loss

Percentage of Tobacco Stripped into Each Grade from

8 Locations

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Flyings Lugs Leaf Tips

Flyings 15.81% 14.18% 15.88% 15.16% 16.13% 16.19% 14.09% 15.22% 14.99% 15.80%

Lugs 34.87% 36.76% 38.27% 37.68% 35.83% 37.71% 37.07% 36.59% 39.92% 34.34%

Leaf 35.02% 34.65% 30.98% 32.14% 32.36% 30.54% 32.84% 32.24% 30.29% 32.52%

Tips 14.31% 14.41% 14.86% 15.02% 15.68% 15.56% 15.99% 15.95% 14.80% 17.34%

H403 HB04P K14XL8 KT200 KT204 N126 NC5 NC6 R7-12 TN90

Locations: Clinton, Henry, Taylor (3), Trimble(2) & Wayne Counties

“Crop Throw”

TypicalTypical Flyings – 4 leavesFlyings – 4 leaves Lugs – 9 leavesLugs – 9 leaves Leaf – 8 leavesLeaf – 8 leaves Tips – 4 leavesTips – 4 leaves

Contract DemandContract Demand Flyings – 1-3 leavesFlyings – 1-3 leaves Lugs – 4-6 leavesLugs – 4-6 leaves Leaf – 11-12 leavesLeaf – 11-12 leaves Tips – 4-6 leavesTips – 4-6 leaves

Market Prep & Storage Wait till cure is completeWait till cure is complete

No fat stemsNo fat stems AvoidAvoid

High moistureHigh moisture High pressure during High pressure during

balingbaling Non-tobacco related Non-tobacco related

materialmaterial StorageStorage

Minimal amount of timeMinimal amount of time Avoid plasticAvoid plastic Provide ventilationProvide ventilation