LEE COUNTY CENTER |
Tobacco growers now have a timely information service at
their fingertips, via the telephone or internet, that will track
the occurrence of blue mold and help predict the future movement
of the fungus spores into the United States.
The forecasts are generated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from March through September. Growers can access the toll-free verbal blue mold forecast via the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Teletip system. Dial 1-800-662-7301 and follow voice prompts. (Press 6) The access code for flue-cured tobacco is 2691. Farmers using the WWW can access more detailed information on the internet site http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/bluemold/. Tobacco farmers are encouraged to take part in this free blue mold tracking service, so that they can take an active role in battling this tobacco disease.
NOTE: Blue Mold has been confirmed in several seedling production systems around Gainsville, Florida. This is the only information we have at this time. Growers are encouraged to use the system described above to stay current on the movement of blue mold.
We got complaints last year about tobacco growers using spray paint on tobacco sheets to identify tobacco from different farms. In some cases, growers were using plastic ribbon rather than paint. Buyers say any type of paint or plastic is not acceptable, and they will not purchase the tobacco if they find them on the sheets. In addition, spray painted sheets must be discarded to get them out of the system; this costs farmers as well as warehousemen and buyers.
Leaf buyers are asking us to assist with this problem now, by reminding farmers not to use any paint or plastic ribbons on sheeted tobacco. On the positive side, I recently learned from Mac Dunkley, Director of Flue-Cured Container Corporation, that our efforts to reduce cutting of sheet corners by promoting the special tobacco sheet knot are paying off; the number of damaged sheets in 1995 were reduced by 50% compared to 1994. The 1996 figures are not available yet.
ISK company, the manufacturer of Dacthal (DCPA) herbicide released the following information. Please recall that this herbicide has many vegetables and fruit labels. They informed me that the Dacthal label would be maintained; however it would no longer be manufactured or marketed. Some people expect there to be an 18 month supply still available. However, our local representative has indicated that it is probably less than this, because growers are starting to buy and store it for future use. If you anticipate using Dacthal in the future, then you may wish to go ahead and buy it. It will be legal to use as long as you have the product available or on the farm.
There have been several developments in the new herbicide, Spartan 75 DF. You may recall that it received a state label for use in tobacco about a month ago. Several farmers used it or are planning to use it at transplanting. Please read the following information carefully!
5.3 oz./A = 1 level scoop plus 75 ml.
6.7 oz./A = 1 level scoop plus 100 ml.
8 oz./A = 2 level scoops plus 50 ml.
Please use this conversion and throw away any other ones you may have.
There seems to be a lot of interest in the Beauregard variety of sweet potatoes. This variety was developed in Louisiana and requires some different management from how we grow other varieties. The following information is from the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission and Allan Thornton, Extension Agent in Sampson County. There is no data on whether you should subsoil or not, but the general feeling is that you should not subsoil.
Nitrogen rates should be reduced to around 50#/A (150#/A of 34% N) and applied 4 weeks after transplanting. P & K should be applied according to soil test. In the absence of a soil test, they suggest 400 lbs. to the acre of 0-15-25 close to planting, followed by 400 lbs. of 0-0-30 at second cultivation, followed by 150 lbs. of 34-0-0 about 30 days after planting. Growers also need to use closer in-row spacing with Beauregard. Spacing should be no more than 9 inches, closer if possible. Following these practices will grow nice potatoes. Ignoring, any of these steps and roots can be long and misshapen.
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Flue-Cured Stabilization (FCSC) have received a number of calls on the details of barn certification and sometimes on questions about different arrangements between quota holders and actual producers. While the following points may not cover all situations, they should help to answer most of the questions you have.
I have heard that some non-producing quota holders discarded the certification forms because they thought barn certification did not apply to them; as you will see later, this is not necessarily true. Also, some certification forms have been returned to FCSC by the Postal Service because there are no valid addresses, apparently because the 911 system is still being implemented in some counties. PEOPLE NEEDING CERTIFICATION FORMS SHOULD CALL FCSC AT 919-821-4560.
THEREFORE, FAILURE TO CERTIFY A FARM NUMBER, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NO BARNS,CAN RESULT IN THAT FARM'S TOBACCO BEING INITIALLY IDENTIFIED AS "NOT CERTIFIED".
The solution is for either the quota holder and/or the producer to certify for zero (0) barns for that farm number. If the quota holder's farm number is not on the producer's form, it can be added to the right side of the producer's form and the quota holder's farm will be considered to be certified.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST, HOWEVER, THAT THE QUOTA HOLDER AND PRODUCER CONTACT EACH OTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THEM HAS CERTIFIED THE FARM!
Each year, we plant various demonstrations in our area to learn about new varieties, pesticides, and alternative crops. We share information gathered at these demonstrations in letters, tours, meetings and mass media. Another important use of these local tests is to provide you, the grower, an opportunity to visit the demonstrations and judge the performance of whatever it is we are testing or demonstrating.
We have a large demonstration at David Sherrill's farm in Richmond County involving various "alternative crops." We have 16 varieties of lettuce, 2 varieties of broccoli, as well as cauliflower and chinese cabbage. We also are testing plant spacings with the broccoli, cauliflower and chinese cabbage.
We have a similar demonstration at Frank Bryant's farm in Moore County. We have 7 types of lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower planted next to his strawberry field.
At Lonnie Thomas's farm in Lee County, we have an onion variety trial with eight varieties of onions. We included short, medium and long season onions in this demonstration. We have this test repeated at Lee Berry's farm in Richmond County.
We have a blueberry variety demonstration with eight different varieties at Jamie and Cindy Teel's farm in Lee County. Six of the varieties are soon to be released new varieties from North Carolina State University.
Our tobacco on-farm-test is in Richmond County at David DeWitt's farm. We are comparing plantbed to greenhouse grown tobacco transplants.
We are planning a spring tour to look at several of these demonstrations and you are also encouraged to go by and visit them on your own. Feel free to contact any of the cooperating growers or myself for more information.
Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact John Hall.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this page, please contact me at: john_hall@ncsu.edu
Last revised on April 29, 1998