Unites States Contracting Expected to Decline in 2015

Source from:  ITV Network Limited (uk) 02/15/2015

Chris Bickers of Tobacco Farmer Newsletter writes that due to the unexpectedly high leaf production in 2014, with the US Department of Agriculture in January raising its total volume estimate for the 2014flue-cured crop to 573 million pounds, up 7% from its earlier forecast and 26% higher than the previous year, flue-cured contracts for this year could be down 25% from 2014, while the 2015 contracting is believed to be "a little stronger" for burley tobacco, production of which totaled 213 million pounds in 2014 according to the USDA, or 1% more than the forecast and 11% above the previous year.　Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company has reportedly increased its contract volumes, according to growers, and a new unnamed company inSwitzerlandalso reportedly contracted for organic American flue-cured and burley leaf for 2015, he said. Looking abroad, Bickers saidBrazilhas a large production size that is being marketed now, whileZimbabwe's production target might not be achieved because of heavy rains. The rain's impact onMalawi's crop, mostly burley, has been worse, with some plantings being washed away entirely and the rest showing the effects of too much precipitation, Bickers said. Separately, J. Michael Moore of Georgia Extension said greenhouse seeding is nearly complete in Florida and Georgia, and some plants are up and growing, while Loren Fisher of North Carolina Extension said seeding in that State is expected to begin in about 10 days. Andy Bailey, Dark Tobacco Extension Specialist at theUniversityofKentucky, said most of the seeding of dark tobacco will begin from March 15th, though some could begin in late February. Enditem