1. Dark Tobacco Update Andy Bailey Univ. of KY / Univ. of TN Univ. of KY Research & Education Center, Princeton, KY U.S. Tobacco Forum, July 16-18, 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC

2. Dark Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee 30 counties: 20 KY, 10 TN Approx. 21,000 acres (down 25% from 2008) Kentucky: 9300 acres dark fired, 5000 dark air cured Tennessee: 6500 acres dark fired, 1100 dark air cured Limited expansion of semi-fired and air-cured in North Carolina VA NC

3. 2009 Dark Crop Extremely wet spring, 12-14” rain in May-June Very shallow root system –Heat stress and temporary nutrient deficiencies –Shallow rooted crop will require more rainfall later Uneven, becoming more uniform in past 2 wks

4. 2009 Dark Crop Major buyers reduced 2009 contracted poundsMajor buyers reduced 2009 contracted pounds Heavy inventories and company mergersHeavy inventories and company mergers 2009 will be back to an “average” volume year2009 will be back to an “average” volume year –Approx. 45 million lbs dark-fired –Approx. 15 million lbs dark air-cured Less double-crop curing required in 2009Less double-crop curing required in 2009 –Many crops set in narrow time window anyway

5. Dark Tobacco Research Programs Variety development –Better black shank resistance, yield potential, quality Pest control and pesticide screening –Potential new pesticide registrations TSNA reduction –Field practices, barn monitoring, curing practices Reduction of production costs –Strip-tillage –Promotion of IPM –Fire-curing cost reduction: $400/A+ curing costs and sawdust shortages Indirect firing techniques and alternative wood sources

6. Extension Programs Tobacco Education –Innovative Tobacco Grower Program Extensive tobacco production short course –Burley and Dark Tobacco Production Manual –Trainings for county agents and company representatives

7. Kentucky Tobacco Team Bob Pearce, UK Burley Specialist Paul Denton, UT/UK Burley Specialist Andy Bailey, UK/UT Dark Specialist Bob Miller, UK/UT Burley/Dark Breeding Kenny Seebold, UK Pathologist Lee Townsend, UK Entomologist John Wilhoit, UK Ag Engineering Will Snell, UK Ag Economics

8. Dark Tobacco Website: http://ces3.ca.uky.edu/darktobacco Trigg Co., KY