2021-2022 Burley and Dark Tobacco A cooperative effortProduction of the University of Kentucky, the University of Tennessee, Guide Virginia Tech, and NC State University 436-050 PB 1782 ID-160 Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Competing in a Competitive, Challenging and Changing Marketplace ..................................2 Selecting Burley Tobacco Varieties ........................................................................................................3 Selecting Dark Tobacco Varieties ............................................................................................................7 Management of Tobacco Float Systems ..............................................................................................11 Field Selection and Soil Preparation .................................................................................................... 22 Weed Management .................................................................................................................................... 27 Fertilization ................................................................................................................................................... 30 Disease Management ................................................................................................................................ 33 Insect Pest Management .......................................................................................................................... 41 Topping and Sucker Control ..................................................................................................................46 Harvest Management for Burley and Dark Tobacco ..................................................................... 53 Facilities and Curing .................................................................................................................................. 54 Stripping and Preparation of Tobacco for Market ...........................................................................61 TSNAs in Burley and Dark Tobacco ................................................................................................... 65 Cigar Wrapper Tobacco Production ................................................................................................... 71 Safety and Health in Tobacco Production ......................................................................................... 75 Worker Protection Standard Updates ................................................................................................. 78 Information Summary Table for Tobacco Pesticides ................................................................... 79 Authors University of Kentucky Zachariah Hansen Andy Bailey, Editor Entomology and Plant Pathology Bob Pearce, Co-Editor Virginia Tech University Lowell Bush, J.D. Green, Bob Miller, Edwin Ritchey David Reed Plant and Soil Sciences Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Emily Pfeufer Chuck Johnson Plant Pathology Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science Will Snell Agricultural Economics North Carolina State University Ric Bessin Matthew Vann, Scott Whitley Entomology Crop Science Wayne Sanderson Hannah Burrack Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Entomology Anne Fisher Lindsey Thiessen Kentucky Tobacco Research and Plant Pathology Development Center (KTRDC) University of Tennessee Cover photo: Neil Rhodes Andy Bailey, University of Kentucky, taken at Plant Sciences Cundiff Farms, Trigg County, Kentucky. Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms. Introduction Bob Pearce and Andy Bailey urley and dark tobacco growers in the U.S. make hundreds GAP Certification program can be found by contacting GAP Bof decisions every growing season that impact the yield and Connections using the contact information provided below. quality of the crops that they produce. These decisions may The written U.S. Tobacco GAP guidelines often refer growers include choosing appropriate varieties, planning effective pest to “University Tobacco Production Guides” for specific recom- control measures, or perhaps deciding the best time to top or mendations regarding management decisions. The informa- harvest a crop. Increasingly, tobacco growers are being required tion and recommendations provided in this guide have been by the industry to record and justify their management deci- developed and reviewed by tobacco production specialists and sions and actions. The most comprehensive example of this is scientists at the University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, the U.S. Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State University. The purpose that was initiated during the 2013 growing season and con- of this multi-state guide is to provide all burley and dark tobacco tinues annually. In this program, all growers who sell tobacco growers with the most up-to-date, research-based recommen- to GAP Connections member organizations are required to dations to produce high-yielding, high-quality tobacco. The attend training sessions on the principals of GAP and to keep guide provides advice on industry-accepted practices that may detailed records of their production practices. Growers are cur- be applied across the burley and dark tobacco growing regions, rently required to attend training every season in which they although in some cases, growers may be referred to their local plan to sell tobacco. In 2018, GAP Connections introduced the extension offices for additional information relevant to their next step in the evolution of the U.S. Tobacco GAP program, specific situation and location. GAP Certification. GAP Certification involves more rigorous recordkeeping and auditing requirements that will increase GAP Connection 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive traceability of U.S. tobacco through the production chain and Knoxville, TN 37996-001 further differentiate U.S. tobacco growers among other tobacco Office: 865.622.4606 growers around the world. Many GAP Connections member Fax: 865.622.4550 organizations are now requiring growers to become GAP Certi- email: [email protected] fied. Additional information about U.S. Tobacco GAP and the Website: http://www.gapconnections.com/ Competing in a Competitive, Challenging and Changing Marketplace Will Snell .S. tobacco producers face a lot of challenges in today’s mar- U.S. smokeless tobacco market. Alternatively, the U.S. burley Uketing environment, ranging from declining profitability, grower has struggled amidst a marketplace where cigarette labor challenges, changing product demand, and regulatory consumption continues to decline globally, and where buyers uncertainty. Consequently, it is vital that producers attempt to view price as more important than quality in making purchas- gain any competitive advantage they can acquire in combating ing decisions. the challenges from international competitors and a changing/ While price is the single most critical factor in determining declining marketplace. competitiveness, today’s buying segment is really focusing on Historically, U.S. tobacco producers competed primarily “value,” which of course includes both price and quality of leaf, on quality. U.S. tobacco has always been viewed as the best but also some intangible factors referred to as social responsibil- quality tobacco produced in the world, which led to the ability ity. Today’s tobacco companies are being challenged on many to be competitive in a global market despite its higher prices. fronts given the health risks associated with their products, However, the U.S. quality advantage has narrowed in recent demands from stockholders (e.g. eliminating child labor in decades with improved production practices overseas and as producing the crop and addressing environment related issues), tobacco manufacturers have been able to utilize a higher volume policymakers enacting tax increases and consumption restric- of lower quality leaf in their cigarette blends. Plus, quality no tions, along with the general public’s perception of the industry. longer warrants as large of a price premium in global markets. In response to critics, tobacco companies are attempting (or Alternatively, low quality burley leaf is heavily discounted in perhaps being regulated) to be more transparent about the both international as well as the domestic market given avail- composition, manufacturing and marketing of their products, able lower-price substitutes. Finally, a new generation of tobacco which directly and indirectly affect growers. products have been introduced in the marketplace with a dif- In reality, today’s tobacco product marketplace challenge is ferent composition of ingredients. to manufacture and deliver reduced-risk tobacco products to Despite a changing marketplace with a lot of uncertainties, a declining consumer base amid a critical (and often times di- the U.S. dark tobacco sector continues to maintain a relatively vided) public health community and global government bodies strong position given limited competition worldwide, the man- calling for increased regulations. This will undoubtedly impact agement skills of existing producers, and the strength of the tobacco growers through the demand for their leaf as well as 2 their