UGA Tobacco -- Tobacco Hotline May 26, 1999

The 1999 Georgia-Florida flue-cured tobacco auction season began Tuesday, July 27, with marketings consisting exclusively of new crop tobacco.

According to the USDA AMS Tobacco Market News Service for the week ending July 30, higher grade bid averages were noted during opening week of Georgia-Florida flue-cured tobacco sales, especially for tobacco packaged in bales. The only major change in composition of marketings was an increase in nondescript offerings. Loan receipts decreased, when compared with the first week last year. Volume of sales was light on the northern Georgia markets, while the other markets ranged from moderate to heavy.

Gross Sales by States and Type follow:

	Week Ending 07/29/99 (Three Sales Days)		Week Ending 07/23/98 (Three Sales Days)
State / Type	Pounds	Average	Pounds	Average
Florida	1,068,108	$148.84	1,215,713	$141.33
Georgia	4,169,309	$149.93	4,005,880	$143.67
Total	5,237,417	$149.71	5,221,593	$143.13

The weekly general average of $149.71 was up $6.58 from opening week last season. Resales totaled 116,757 pounds for both the week and the season.

Over three-fourths of the individual grade averages were above levels set during the first week last year. Most heavy volume primings were up generally $1 to $6, and averaged between $137 and $157 per hundred, for bales and sheets combined. Lugs varied mainly $1 to $2 and sold from $140 to $157, while nondescript increased as much as $8, and brought between $103 and $129 per hundred. A comparison of bales to sheets showed that bales averaged from $8 to $12 higher, in most cases.

The composition of tobacco on warehouse floors consisted mainly of primings (P) at 72 percent, followed by lugs (X) at 15, and nondescript (N) 12 percent - up 4 points. Quality percentages were as follow: fine - 1; good - 14; fair - 64, and low quality 9 percent. Unripe and immature tobacco combined for 19 percent of sales, although the majority was ripe and orange (F) in color.

The Flue-Cured Stabilization Corporation took in 2.2 percent of sales this week, compared with 6.6 percent for the first week last season.

Auction bid averages per hundred pounds on several U. S. grades and comparisons follow:

Last week's hot temperatures stressed soil moisture and crops, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. The heat brought maximum temperatures over 100 degrees in many areas of the state. The high temperatures dried out soils as 59 percent of the soils had short or very short moisture compared with 21 percent the previous week.

Soil moisture conditions are mostly short to adequate for the tobacco producing area of Georgia. It has been over a week since severe lightening storms dumped from two to four inches over widespread areas of the state in very short periods of time. Temperatures reaching 100 degrees most days last week made for hot times in warehouses during opening week of tobacco sales.

Tobacco in the fields also suffered from the extreme temperatures and humidity. Certain varieties, especially NC 71 and NC 72 have been observed to be bleaching a creamy white color in the top leaves when compared to other older varieties as the intense sun beats down on them.

According to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service and County Agent estimates, as of August 1, 52 percent of the Georgia Tobacco Crop had been harvested compared to 35 percent this time last year and 58 percent as an average of the last five years. One percent of the crop was rated excellent, 33 percent good, 41 percent fair, 18 percent poor, and 7 percent very poor.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) damage appears to have reached a statewide average of 35 percent of plant stand loss. Although much of this loss occurred early in the production season, the high number of plants lost makes the potential for compensation for weight lost from those remaining plants less likely. Current estimates suggest that yield losses due to TSWV damage may amount to as much as 20 percent of potential production.

Hornworms are the major insect of note at this time of the season. Few tobacco slitworms have been observed this season. Flea beetles and aphids are generally at low levels, especially in fields treated with Admire.

There are multiple slipsheet designs and an increasing number of manufacturers. It is very important that growers specify the type of baler they want slipsheets to fit. Also, they should be aware of the guidelines for slipsheets listed on for the latest news on baling tobacco and to insure that newly purchased slipsheets meet the wishes of the companies. Sources of slipsheets are listed as well. Some manufacturers who have not been involved previously may not be selling the product with the latest specs.

Tobacco companies are currently using the TobaccoChek® Moisture Tester. Hay moisture meters are not programed for tobacco and will not give an accurate reading. Below is the only source for the meter.

A long stemmed thermometer can be used to monitor the bale of tobacco. Shortly after baling, the interior of the bale should be close to the air temperature when baled. If, after several days, the temperature starts to rise to 10 - 15 degrees above the outside temperature or above 105 F, I would be concerned enough to break it open. After a week or so and there is no rise in temperature, you are not likely to have a problem. By checking the temperature and moisture, most growers should be able to pinpoint problems before they get severe. There may be several sources for long-stemmed thermometers but one source is:

Their 20" Compost thermometer is the one we used in 1997 and 1998. It worked well.

Bale Tags are being provided at no expense to the grower this year. The tobacco companies prefer to have bale tags attached to bales at the point of sale. Growers should be strongly encouraged to obtain the tags and to apply them to the bales according to the instructions with the tags prior to sale. Some minor changes are being made after the market opens to reflect buyer preferences and ease of viewing as bales are aligned for sale. Refer to the BALING WEBSITE

for more information on obtaining the tags. There is a form and a FAX number for sending in the request.

1) As of Friday, July 30, the Bale Tag Corp has issued and shipped approximately 580,000 tags.

3) They have been temporarily out of tag stock but expect the have a new supply in hand by Saturday (7/31).

4) Growers are asked to refrain from calling about tags because they have to take people off issuing tags to handle the calls.

Dr. Boyette reports that several baler manufacturers and dealers say that balers are "selling like hot cakes" and that there is a waiting list for some models. Although there is no way of knowing how many may be out there, it may be as many as 4000.

Slip sheets are still a problem in that some slip sheets work better in some balers than others.

* Any slip sheet purchased in 1998 and not meeting the above must be used first.

There are five or six different slip sheet designs that vary slightly in size. Those ordering slip sheets are cautioned to make certain what they order fits their particular baler.

Thank you for visting the Georgia Tobacco Hotline, presented by the University of Georgia Extension Tobacco Team and brought to you by the makers of Orthene 97 granular insecticide with reduced dust and reduced odor.

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