Growing Burley Tobacco in a Post Buyout Environment Dr. Gary Palmer Dr. Bob Pearce Dr. Andy Bailey University of Kentucky

Good Agricultural Practices Produced in a timely manner Produced in a timely manner  Good management essential Use of agronomically sound practices Use of agronomically sound practices Economically viable returns Economically viable returns  High yield per acre Reduce Environmental Impact of Production Reduce Environmental Impact of Production

What Will the Term Quality Mean? Desirable for buyer Desirable for buyer  Contracted amount supplied  Cured properly  Free of foreign material  Low in undesirable elements  Nornicotine  Nitrosamines  nitrate & nitrites  Low pesticide residue No unlabeled pesticidesNo unlabeled pesticides No excessive residues of labeled chemicalsNo excessive residues of labeled chemicals

February March April May Timely Production Seeding so that plants will be ready to set on time Seeding so that plants will be ready to set on time  Watch weather reports to reduce gas expense  Plants ready 7 to 9 weeks after seeding Controlling environment to minimize temperature & disease related damage Controlling environment to minimize temperature & disease related damage Disease prevention Disease prevention  To reduce delays  To improve transplant quality

Transplant on time Can improve yield Can improve yield Reduce disease incidence Reduce disease incidence  Blue mold  Virus complex Some curing concerns Some curing concerns What’s the difference between a good farmer and a bad farmer?

Burley Tobacco Variety Trial Across 7 Locations – 4 Grades Locations: Clinton, Henry, Taylor (3), Trimble & Wayne Counties

Varieties Will Be Screened Varieties may have some plants in the population that produce a high amount of nornicotine () Varieties may have some plants in the population that produce a high amount of nornicotine (Converters) Nornicotine may lead to NNN (Nitrosonornicotine): one of the tobacco specific nitrosamines Nornicotine may lead to NNN (Nitrosonornicotine): one of the tobacco specific nitrosamines By cleaning up the variety so that most plants have a low level, NNN will develop at only a low level By cleaning up the variety so that most plants have a low level, NNN will develop at only a low level

How Do We Know If the Variety is Screened? “LC” varieties “LC” varieties  KT 204LC, KT200LC, TN 97LC,  TN 90LC, TN 86 LC, KY 907LC “Produced from screened parents” “Produced from screened parents” Exceptions Exceptions  KY14 x L8, KY14, KY17 (Available in 2006)  Some private varieties

Some Varieties Will Be Dropped Screening is expensive and older varieties would cost too much for upkeep Screening is expensive and older varieties would cost too much for upkeep Good alternatives are available to replace most older varieties Good alternatives are available to replace most older varieties  A good disease package will be essential  14 x L8  High management  Tendency to initiate suckers early  KY 907  Lodging & quality  TN 86  Quality

Nitrogen Use Optimum levels Optimum levels  Soil Level of NLbs. N/ac  High  Medium  Low Can we grow high yield tobacco at 200 to 250?

Effects of Nitrogen Rates on Burley Tobacco at Spindletop Farm

Effects of Nitrogen Rates on Burley Tobacco 18 Locations over 15 years “Low” N soils are the exception not the rule!

Nitrogen Changes in Competing Countries Brazil Brazil   Changes   Rate From 300 kg/ha (270 lbs./A) To 160 kg/ha (145 lbs./A)   Type From Ammonium Nitrate & Urea To Soda Potash (100% Nitrate)

Nitrosamine levels from different N sources Jackson Co. – Ron Madden Farm Number = lbs of product, AN = Ammonium Nitrate, CN = Calcium Nitrate, SN = Sodium Nitrate Broadcast Sidedress LaminaMid-rib

Disease Management Crop Rotation Crop Rotation Prevention Prevention Conservation Tillage Conservation Tillage  Utilization of disease free land  Reduce erosion  Reduce fuel use

Terramaster for pythium control

Black Shank:  Rotation  Resistant Varieties  Ridomil  Sanitation Blue Mold  Preventative  Acrobat  Actigard  Avoid  Shade  Low wet areas  Infected Transplants

Influence of Insecticide Treatments on Burley Yield Boyle Co - Wesley Pruitt Farm P=Platinum, A=Admire, O=Orthene #=fl oz/a except Orthene in lb/a, Trans = Transplant water, Drenched plants were treated prior to transplanting

Controlling Red Aphids

Pesticide Concerns Illegal pesticides Illegal pesticides  Could void contract Indiscriminant use of labeled pesticides Indiscriminant use of labeled pesticides  Endosulfan (Golden Leaf)  MH

Recommended Sucker Control 1.5 gal MH +.5 gal of either Prime + or Butralin 1.5 gal MH +.5 gal of either Prime + or Butralin Coarse Nozzles Coarse Nozzles  TG-3 if tractor mounted sprayer or high clearance sprayer in rough terrain  TG-5 if high clearance on level ground

Consistent Supply

Burley Crop Estimate 2004 Taken from Agricultural Statistics Data Base (October 2004) Commodity Year State Area, Yield, and Production, Harvested Yield Production acre pounds 1000 lbs Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004IN Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004KY Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004MO Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004NC Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004OH Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004TN Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004VA Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004WV Burley Tobacco (Type 31)2004US

Topping Top can vary by company Top can vary by company  May change in the future Top to leaves Top to leaves  For companies looking for more tips Topping height can influence other factors Topping height can influence other factors  Leaf spread  Cured leaf color  Root development  Nicotine levels  Disease incidence

Harvest date Harvest mature tobacco  Usually at 4 weeks after topping  Weather may delay  Late maturing varieties may need more time Quality Yield

Harvest Problems Avoid Green Avoid Green Sunburn Sunburn Mud Mud Rough Rough Handling Handling

Curing Burley Tobacco

Curing Problem Low humidity/high temperature   Drying, not a cure Low humidity/satisfactory temperature   Variegated, piebald or green tobacco Low or high humidity/low temperature   Green tobacco High humidity/high temperature   House burn, microbial growth and excessive weight loss

What Kind of Curing Facility Inefficient labor use Construction expense Long term investment Other uses Slow change in conditions Forced ventilation? Nitrosamines? Efficient Inexpensive Limited lifetime Not for storage Daily cycle of conditions Nitrosamines ? Improved color?

Market Prep & Storage Wait till cure is complete Wait till cure is complete  No fat stems Avoid Avoid  High moisture  High pressure during baling  Non-tobacco related material Storage Storage  Minimal amount of time  Avoid plastic  Provide ventilation Close supervision of stripping crew?