J. Michael Moore, University of Georgia Extension Agronomist-Tobacco
Georgia Tobacco Market Report
Georgia Tobacco Warehouse Ranking
South Georgia Weather/Crop Status
Disease
MH Residues
According to the USDA AMS Tobacco Market News Service for the week ending August 20, increases in both upper stalk tobacco and grade bid averages marked the fifth week of Georgia-Florida flue-cured auctions.
Volume of sales was heavier this week but it well below what would be considered normal at this point in the season. Based on the effective quota, only 25 percent of the 1998 crop has been sold.
Gross sales by state and type follow:
| State/Type | Weekly Pounds | Weekly Average | Season Pounds | Season Average |
| Florida | 1,251,778 | $164.63 | 5,584,690 | $148.76 |
| Georgia | 6,344,478 | $158.60 | 26,106,270 | $149.08 |
| Total Type 14 | 7,596,256 | $159.60 | 31,690,960 | $149.02 |
Last week's general average of $159.60 was up $11.74 from week number four. After 19 sales days last season, 47.9 million pounds had averaged $159.53 per hundred. Resales amounted to 907,645 pounds for the week, raising the season figure to 3,101,615 pounds.
Over three-fourths of the grade bid averages advanced this week. Heavy volume leaf and cutter offerings were steady to $3 higher in most cases, with most selling between $165 and $184 per hundred. Lugs and primings gained mainly $3 to $5 and brought from $138 to $162 per hundred. The few losses that were reported were generally small and tended to concentrate on unripe and immature lower stalk marketings.
More upper stalk tobacco made its way onto warehouse floors, while lugs and primings decreased. Group percentages were as follows: leaf - 21; smoking leaf - 7; cutters - 16; lugs - 38; primings - 12; and nondescript - 6. Maturity was similar to last week's, as mature to mellow tobacco accounted for 68 percent of sales. From a quality standpoint, fair offerings dominated auctions at 65 percent, followed by low at 21, and good quality at 8 percent.
No major change was noted in the percentage of tobacco placed under loan, as 11.8 percent of sales was delivered to the Stabilization Corporation this week. For the season, 8.4 percent of sales has been placed into the loan program compared to 8.6 percent at the same point last year.
Auction bid averages per hundred pounds on several U.S. grades and comparisons follow:
| U.S. Grade | Auction Bid | Change from Previous Week | Change from Previous Year |
| B4F | $184 | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| B4K | $180 | Down $2 | Unchanged |
| B4KM | $173 | Up $3 | Down $1 |
| C4F | $169 | Up $1 | Down $1 |
| C4KM | $165 | Up $1 | Down $2 |
| X4F | $162 | Up $4 | Up $2 |
| X5F | $156 | Up $4 | Up $3 |
| X4V | $158 | Up $4 | Unchanged |
| X4KV | $140 | Down $2 | Unchanged |
| X4KM | $155 | Unchanged | Up $1 |
| P4F | $150 | Up $3 | Down $5 |
| P5F | $138 | Up $5 | Down $5 |
USDA AMS Tobacco Market News
1306 Annapolis Drive
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-4550
Market News Web Page: http://www.ams.usda.gov/marketnews.htm
For the fourth week of sales, the highest average price for the week was found at H & R Tobacco Warehouse on the Moultrie Market with an average price of $156.85 per hundredweight. Second highest was Cole Tobacco Warehouse, also of the Moultrie Market, with an average of $154.32 per hundredweight. Third highest for the week was Planters Warehouse on the Nashville Market, with an average of $154.22 per hundredweight. H & R Tobacco Warehouse of Moultrie has the highest average price for the season of $153.95 per hundredweight.
Soil moisture conditions continue to be mostly adequate for the tobacco producing area of Georgia. Thunder showers were more scattered last week over the production area. Temperatures moderated somewhat last week with fewer days reaching the 100-degree mark. According to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service and county agent estimates, as of August 23, 69 percent of the Georgia tobacco crop had been harvested compared to 91 percent this time last year and 87 percent as an average of the past five years. Three percent of the crop was rated excellent, 31 percent good, 48 percent fair, 13 percent poor, and 5 percent very poor.
Brown spot is causing increased injury to tobacco remaining in the field. Thunder showers promoted the incidence of this disease a week ago. No chemical controls are available for this disease, and only increased harvest rate is recommended. Barn space is limiting the rate of harvest for many growers, who would prefer to complete harvest as soon as possible after a long, hot summer.
MH residues continued to be higher for samples reported last week. With 78 samples analyzed for the season, MH residue levels are averaging 146 ppm across all belts. Georgia-Florida type 14 is averaging 182 ppm, South Carolina type 13 stands at 126 ppm, North Carolina border belt type 13 is averaging 175 ppm, eastern North Carolina belt type 12 is averaging 153 ppm, Old belt Virginia type 11 is averaging 106 ppm, and Old belt North Carolina type 11 has a 0 ppm average after three samples.
Thank you for calling the Georgia Tobacco Hotline, presented by the University of Georgia Extension Tobacco Team and brought to you by the makers of Orthene 75S.
