Recovery Seen in Bluegrass Leaf

Source from:  tobaccofarmquarterly.com Wednesday, August 1, 2007 08/02/2007

Kentucky's tobacco crop has benefited from late July rains and has improved, according to the latest statistics from the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Louisville field office. Statistics indicated that 57 percent of the state's burley crop was rated as good or excellent, with minimal pressure from disease or insects. 37 percent was rated as fair. Last week's statistics showed 22 percent of the crop at poor or very poor, but this week those categories only account for 16 percent of the crop. Tobacco plant development is behind previous years, with 42 percent of the burley at blooming stage or beyond. 55 percent of the crop was at that stage at this time last year and the five-year average was 51 percent. Only 21 percent of burley had been topped. With dark tobacco, however, things are moving ahead briskly, with 63 percent of the crop at topping stage. That is ahead of last year's 55 percent. Topsoil moisture was still down, with 65 percent in the short or very short categories. Subsoil moisture was rated at 73 percent short or very short. Widespread rains at the end of July provided some relief, but more is obviously needed to ease the drought conditions. Enditem