Tobacco Proves Hardy in Tough Carolina Conditions

Source from:  tobaccofarmquarterly.com Friday, August 10, 2007 08/13/2007

While dry conditions and an Easter freeze have played havoc with North Carolina agriculture this year, the tobacco crop is one of the very few Tar Heel crops that projects gains over the previous year. August statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly crop production report shows that crop production is down across the board due to intemperate weather conditions - from an Easter freeze that all but wiped out the apple, peach and grape crops, to dry and hot summer weather with precious little rain that has damaged the corn, soybean and hay crops. Most of the state is in some stage of drought condition. But hardy tobacco, a veteran crop of hot dry summers, is reporting projected double-digit gains over last year's crop estimates. Flue-cured tobacco production is projected at 360.8 million pounds, 11 percent higher then 2006, while Burley tobacco is projected at 7.2 million pounds, up 11 percent over 2006 as well. Flue-cured acreage projected for harvest is estimated at 164,000, up 9,000 acres over the previous year, while burley acres are at 4,000 acres, 200 more than 2006. Flue-cured yield per acre is forecast at 2,200 pounds, up 110 pounds over last year, and Burley yield per acre is forecast at 1,800 pounds, 100 pounds more than the previous year. The only other North Carolina crop showing a projected increase is peanuts, up five percent at 37 million bushels. Hay yields are the lowest since 2002, and growers are selling off some or all of their cattle because feed hay is so difficult to find. Corn crops are slightly down, but are projected to be the largest crop in decades due to the interest in ethanol production. But lack of rain has stunted the crop, and yield per acre is down to 94 bushels per acre, a drop of 38 bushels over 2006. Enditem