Peach State Tobacco Looking at Strong Year

Source from:  tfq.itsmyiq.com Aug 29, 2007 08/30/2007

Georgia tobacco has experienced a positive bounce this summer – one that indicates the crop has a continued future in the Peach State. The Georgia Tobacco Hotline reports this week that Georgia's tobacco crop, while still smaller than in the boom years, will be one of the best crops in the last six years in terms of quality and yield. "I believe this is going to be a year to reassure growers that there may be a future for tobacco in the state and that there's a good reason for the ones left to stay in it," said J. Michael Moore, Cooperative Extension tobacco specialist for the University of Georgia. This season's crop is 20,000 acres, 10 to 15 percent higher than in the last two seasons. While a far cry from the 43,000 acres planted in 1997, this year's crop is expected to yield 2,200 pounds an acre, about 400 pounds more than last year. Key to the rebound has been a noted decline in tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in this year's crop. Infection has been particularly difficult in Georgia in the past, with farmers losing up to 35 percent of the crop. But this year, TSWV has only been at 15 percent, the least in three seasons. TSWV has been a major thrust for research by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Part of the TSWV reduction – and a reduction in insect problems – has been the excessive heat that has plagued the southeast, Irrigation was key to battling the heat and getting a good crop. Moore said the crop has a month to go before it is completely harvested and in the barns, but the crop is made at this point. Statistics from the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Athens, Georgia reports that as of last week, 68 percent of the tobacco crop was harvested, well behind last year's 81 percent total from last year. The five-year average for this time of year is 86 percent. 75 percent of the topsoil moisture was rated as short or very short last week, far drier than the five year average, in which 40 percent of topsoil was either short or very short. The southwestern region of Georgia is the driest, with 30 percent of topsoil rate very short and 29 percent rated short. The South central and southeast portions of Georgia are a bit better, with very short percentages below 8 percent. Enditem