NC STATE UNIVERSITY Mitch Smith County Extension Director Burley Tobacco Production Update February 20, 2008

2006 Burley Tobacco Production NCDA-CS More than 120 acres

Burley Tobacco 2004 Top 5 Counties –Madison –Alleghany –Buncombe –Yancey –Ashe 2006 Top 10 Counties –Rockingham –Surry –Madison –Stokes –Buncombe –Edgecombe –Person –Yadkin –Caswell –Franklin NCDA-CS

2007 Pitt County Burley 118 acres 7 county burley producers

Research Areas Varieties Planting Date Harvest Date N Rate

Variety Evaluation Comparison of yield potential of burley varieties with flue-cured varieties in the Official Variety Test –Whiteville –Rocky Mount Burley OVT at Reidsville

Yield of All Varieties in the Burley OVT at Whiteville, /18

Yield of All Varieties in the Flue- Cured OVT at Whiteville, /45 12/45

Yield of All Varieties in the Burley OVT at Rocky Mount, 2007

Yield of All Varieties in the Flue- Cured OVT at Rocky Mount, 2007

Yield of All Varieties in the Burley OVT at Reidsville, 2007

2007 Season Results Pitt County, NC 80% of county burley acreage was planted in April All acreage was planted by 2 nd week in May NC 7 and KT 204 represented 76% of acreage Average nitrogen rate was 342 pounds per acre Average plant population was 7337

Planting Date Evaluate several planting dates –Normal –10, 20, and 30 day delay in transplanting Original objective was to delay harvest at late as possible without reducing yield Better curing environment

Yield and Quality of the Planting Date Study in Rocky Mount Normal transplanted on April 20 a aa b Transplanting Date 2006

Yield and Quality of the Planting Date Study in Rocky Mount Normal transplanted on April 24 aa a b Transplanting Date 2007

Harvest Date Determine optimum harvest date after topping –20, 30, 40, and 50 days after topping Is holding ability affected by higher temperatures? Will burley hold as long after topping in non-traditional areas?

Yield and Quality of the Harvest Date Study in Rocky Mount * a a a b Harvest Date DAT = Days after topping 2006

Yield and Quality of the Harvest Date Study in Rocky Mount * a a a a c bc a ab Harvest Date DAT = Days after topping 2007

Nitrogen Rate Evaluate three nitrogen rates (lbs/A) –200 –250 –300

Yield and Quality of the N Rate Study in Rocky Mount N Rate Yield (lbs/A) Quality Index 2007

Conclusions The highest yielding burley varieties commonly yield 10-15% less than flue-cured varieties when grown under similar conditions in our trials Planting burley in non-traditional areas after the third week of May will reduce yields most years and will not significantly delay harvest date Harvesting burley ~ 30 days after topping maximized yield and quality most years. Later harvest dates reduce lower stalk yield and quality, however, upper stalk yield may increase. Upper stalk grades may loose tip character with delayed harvest

Conclusions There was no yield increase from 200 to 300 lbs of N per acre if tobacco was harvested in a timely manner Higher N rates did improve yield when harvesting was delayed

Burley VS Flue-cured Rocky Mount OVT, 2007 Flue-cured NC 71: 3269 lbs/A Burley NC 7: 2326 lbs/A Average selling price per pound: –FC: $1.52 –Burley: $1.60 Profit per acre: –FC: $1770 –Burley: $702 (Based on 2008 Budget, Bullen & Brown)

Burley Varieties Variety Lbs/Acre TN KT NC NC NC Reidsville NCOVT

Diseases of Burley Tobacco

Black Shank kills burley faster than flue cured tobacco June 2006, Hoke Co.

Burley, variety response to black shank Forsyth Co., 2006

Burley, variety response to black shank Forsyth Co., 2006

Variety Black Shank Rating Granville Wilt Rating Average Rating KT NC TN NC NC NC Ky 14xL864—— NC K NC CC K

Whenever possible, plant burley in fields with no disease history!

Black shank Control, varieties: NC71, K326, NC7, TN90 Time of RG applicationRate Preplant1.5 pt/A At planting0.38 pt/A 1 st cultivation1.5 pt/A Layby1.5 pt/A 3 wks after Layby1.5 pt/A

Black shank Control, 2007 UCPRS Rocky Mount, 2007

Time of RG application, varieties: NC71, K326, NC7, KY204 Time of applicationRate (pt/A) Preplant + 1 st cult + Layby st cult + Layby Layby Layby + 3 wks after Layby

Surry County 2007 Time of RG application, 2007 Race 1

Surry County 2007 Time of RG application, 2007 Race 1

2008 Predictions Pitt County, NC 64 more acres for 2008 ???? Plant burley before flue-cured Plant KT 206 Provide early season thrips protection Irrigate More sticks than wires ???? Only one buyer for 2008 ????

QUESTIONS?

UPCOMING MEETINGS Tonight! - “Pesticide Resistance in Crops” - Dr. Alan York - 6:00 p.m. - HERE! February 25 - Corn and Soybean Meeting - 10:00 a.m. - Dr. Jim Dunphy and Dr. Ron Heinegar - HERE! February 27 - Peanut Production Meeting - 6:00 p.m. - HERE! Call to pre-register!