J. Michael Moore, University of Georgia Extension Agronomist-Tobacco
- South Georgia Weather Report
- Crop Growth
- Blue Mold Status
- Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Status
- Insects
- Tobacco Tour Information
- Philip Morris Agricultural Leadership Development Program Applications Available
The lack of significant rainfall in much of the state contributed to worsening soil moisture conditions last week, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Soil moisture conditions are rated as short to adequate. Blue Mold and the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus contributed to a tobacco condition of 31 percent poor to very poor.
Plant size varies greatly across the state as well as within the same county. At least a third of the crop is still small and is just now receiving the final application of fertilizer. At least a third is approaching the final cultivation. And the final third ranges from just cultivated for the last time up to some well irrigated fields which are approaching early top emergence. The lack of rainfall and consistent irrigation have certainly made the difference in the progress of the crop.
On may 12th Paul Bertrand wrote:
There has been an obvious increase in active blue mold in the past 7 days. This does not take into account any additional activity triggered by rains last thurs.-fri.(6-7 may) or showers early this week. Tobacco is growing rapidly and Acrobat MZ use is becoming more expensive and complicated (coverage requirements). Acrobat MZ will slow blue mold down where properly
applied but it will not clean up or eliminate existing infections. Growers have complained about continuing to see active blue mold behind Acrobat MZ treatments. Keep four factors in mind when dealing with such a situation:
1. Acrobat MZ will slow down but not totally prevent blue
mold increase. This will be most apparent when treatments
respond to visible infection.
2. When dealing with blue mold you are always 7 days behind
when pondering what you see vs. when infection occurred.
3. The past three weeks have each had 2-4 consecutive days
favorable to blue mold in some sections of the tobacco belt.
4. There is no product labelled or not that is as effective as
Acrobat MZ for for control/suppression of blue mold in
tobacco.
Last week agents in Claxton, Reidsville and Lyons observed
serious infection of blue mold in these areas for the first time this
season. These outbreaks seem to be the result of fronts which
moved across the area the week before and dropping only
minimal amounts of rainfall.
TSWV continues to walk across the GA. tobacco production
area. Earlier planted tobacco appears to have higher levels of
plants showing symptoms of the virus or which have died from
the disease. Numerous agents are reporting fields with greater
than 50 percent stand losses. Several reports have indicated
stand losses averaging one percent loss per day. Statewide
average stand losses have already surpassed the 20 percent
level, which was the season average for 1997.
Numerous growers who have fields which are approaching the
50 percent loss level are questioning the future of continuing to
care for the crop. Missing plants will result in over-grown
remaining plants which received excessive fertilizer and will
produce lower quality leaf. In most cases it appears that insured
levels are not sufficient to allow growers to abandon the crop
and still pay the production costs of the crop to this point. Often
affected fields are lumped together on the same policy with the
entire farm and the crop must be carried through the season
before any settlement can be reached.
Insect populations and damage continue to be low. Tobacco budworms are the primary insect present.
Monday Headquarters for Monday evening June 14 will be the Trellis
Garden Inn (1-800-475-1380) in Statesboro, GA located at
107 South Main Street. Identify yourself as part of the "Georgia
Tobacco Tour" for Special Rates. The Kick-Off Supper will be
held nearby beginning at 7:00 pm.
Tuesday morning the tour will leave the Trellis Garden Inn at
7:30 a.m. and visit farm sites in Evans, Jeff Davis and Bacon
Counties. Lunch will be in Alma. In the afternoon we will visit
on-farm demonstration sites in Bacon and Ware Counties. We
will spend the night in Waycross. A block of rooms has been
reserved at the Waycross Holiday Inn (912-283-4490).
Identify yourself as part of the "Georgia Tobacco Tour". Supper
will be served at 7:00 p.m. at Mixon's pond near Waresboro.
Wednesday morning the tour will leave from the Holiday Inn
parking lot at 7:30 a.m. to visit Coffee and Berrien Counties.
Lunch will be in Tifton. In the afternoon we will visit the Coastal
Plain Experiment Station research plots. The tour will end with
supper at the Lowndes County Civic Center on Hwy 84 East of
Valdosta at 7:00 p.m. A block of rooms has been reserved at
the Shoney's Inn (912-559-5660), Exit 2, Lake Park, GA.
Identify yourself as part of the 'Georgia Tobacco Tour'.
Thursday On June 17 the Florida Tour will leave from the Shoney's Inn at
Lake Park for visits of Florida farms and the University of
Florida Green Acres Research Station. More details on
schedule and motels will follow later.
Brochures and application materials for the 1999-2001 Philip
Morris Agricultural Leadership Development Program are
available at the following website:
Leadership Program Info - CLICK HERE
Growers from all five flue-cured producing states will be
participating in this program. State coordinators in each state
will coordinate selection of the participants from that state. The program will focus on two areas:
1)Leadership development through consensus building and
conflict resolution, and
2)In-depth business management skills.
Other topics, such as personal communication skills and international and domestic
policy will be incorporated in the program.
