1-800-659-7288
J. Michael Moore, University of Georgia Extension Agronomist-Tobacco
- South Georgia Weather Report
- Transplanting Progress
- Blue Mold Status
- Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Status
- Insects
- Baling Web Site Available
- Baling Tags to Be Available for 1999
- Tobacco Tour Dates
Soil moisture has been in short supply for most of the Georgia production area throughout the 1999 transplanting season. Recently, the short soil moisture situation has become critical as most of the southern portion of Georgia was missed by the last promising weather fronts which passed over the area on Tuesday and again on Friday of this past week. Rainfall is currently running more than 6 to 8 inches behind normal for the season. Air and soil temperatures have been higher than normal with daytime temperatures ranging from the upper 60s to the low 90s. Days of prolonged cloudiness during the last week of April caused concerns of spreading of the existing blue mold.
Transplant supplies have been and continue to be in abundant supply. Some re-transplanting has occurred due to combinations of rhizoctonia, pythium, dry soils and blowing sand. Approximately 99 percent of the crop has been transplanted and a majority of the crop has had the initial fertilizer application. Early growth has been quite slow due to low moisture availability.
More than 14 counties have been identified as having fields infected with blue mold. Numerous beds and greenhouses where blue mold was initially found in late March had been treated with Ridomil Gold and served to indicate the insensitivity of the blue mold to Ridomil Gold. In spite of the continued high air temperatures and lack of rainfall, field infections continue to be observed and are widespread across the southern portion of the production area. Days of prolonged cloudiness during the last week of April caused concerns of spreading of the existing blue mold. The fungicide Acrobat MZ has received a Section 24C State Local Needs label for blue mold control on tobacco during the 1999 season. Growers are being encouraged to apply 0.5 to 0.75 pounds of Acrobat MZ per acre in 20 gallons of water to tobacco less than three weeks old, and to increase the rate to 1.0 to 1.25 pounds per 40 gallons of water per acre for tobacco 4 to 6 weeks old. Complete coverage is a must to insure control. Sprays should be repeated every 5 to 7 days and after wash-off until the threat of blue mold has been lifted. Multiple spray nozzles per row should be used after tobacco starts to grow and increase foliage to be treated.
According to Dr. Paul Bertrand, TSWV is showing up all across the GA. tobacco belt. March
planted tobacco is running <5% - >50% four weeks after transplanting. Rather than a traditional "hot
spot" in and around Coffee Co., fields with a potential for significant loss are reported all over
GA. It is too late now to do any more than take note of it. Re-setting is not a very good option
except as a last resort. Transplant date can influence incidence of TSWV but we cannot say
which planting date carries the lowest risk. Re-setting could lead to worse TSWV than now
present. DO NOT consider re-setting unless:
A. TSWV is > 20% four weeks or less after transplant,
B. GOOD plants are available,
C. Field is irrigated , AND
D. Present stand is not insured or cannot be insured without re-setting.
Tobacco budworms, cutworms, flea beetles and even beet armyworms are showing up across the production area. Most of these have been spotted in the areas of occurrence, but flea beetle numbers have been very high in areas not treated with Admire insecticide. Thrips levels have been extremely high with a county agent reporting a field recently with 100 thrips per leaf of tobacco.
Dr. Mike Boyette has recently posted a new web page devoted to baling, balers, baler
manufacturers, and soon the bale tag application form. These may be printed for completion and
return to request tags. The URL for the Web Site is: http://tobacco.bae.ncsu.edu/. Bales will be
considered an acceptable marketing package for flue-cured tobacco in 1999 and bale weight, size,
wires and slipsheet will be similar to those used in previous years.
1.) The dimensions of the bales for 1999 will be identical to those of 1997 and 1998. (42" cube).
2.) Weight is 750 lbs (+/- 100 lbs). Like last year, no price support on bales over 850 lbs. and
strong discouragement of bales less than 650 lbs.
3.) The nominal density is still 18 lbs/cubic foot.
4.) The bale moisture to be no more than 18% (16% last year) but great enough to prevent
shattering. Bale temperature to be no more than 105 F.
5.) Bale wire may be round or oval, 12 to 13-1/2 guage, uncoated, and may range from 144 to
150 inches in length. It must be pre-knotted (have pre-formed loops). NO EXTENSIONS will be
allowed. Bales must have a minimum of 4 wires.
6.) Slipsheets must be white on both sides, 250 pounds test strength, have two side flaps and have
a water resistant coating on the bottom. This is really not much change from last year. Any
slipsheets in inventory from1998 not complying with above (i.e. brown on one or both sides, etc.)
may be used if used within 6 weeks of opening sale.
Several of the leaf dealers have gone together to form a company called "Flue-Cured Tobacco Bale Tag Corporation". This company will be in charge of processing applications and issuing bale tags this season. The details are in the process of being worked out. After much discussion during the winter, bale tags will be required and provided for bales during the 1999 marketing season. A new corporation has been formed to manage the application for tags, the production of the tags and the shipping of tags to growers.
Remember the dates for the Florida and Georgia Tobacco Tours as you make plans for the summer. The Georgia Tour will begin with dinner on June 14, in Statesboro, GA. On June 15, the tour will leave Statesboro for visits of farm sites and ending that evening in Waycross, Georgia. The Georgia Tour will continue June 16 from Waycross to the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton and will end with dinner in Valdosta with lodging for the evening at the Shoney's Inn at Lake Park for the evening. 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.
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.
