Dark Tobacco Update

Andy BaileyUniv. of KY / Univ. of TN

Univ. of KY Research & Education Center, Princeton, KY

U.S. Tobacco Forum, July 16-18, 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC

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

2009 Dark Crop2009 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

2009 Dark Crop2009 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-firedApprox. 45 million lbs dark-fired

– Approx. 15 million lbs dark air-curedApprox. 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 anywayMany crops set in narrow time window anyway

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

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

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

Dark Tobacco Website:http://ces3.ca.uky.edu/darktobacco

Trigg Co., KY