NC Cooperative Extension Service

"Avoiding Curing Losses Due to
Electrical Failures"

Mitch Smith, County Extension Director

Pitt County Extension Center
Greenville, NC 27834

Consider the Purchase of a Generator

Most tobacco farms today are equipped with back up generators to provide energy during inclement weather. If a generator has not been purchased, sources to rent, lease, or buy one is strongly urged. A small standby generator can be moved form barn-to-barn and can be effective in keeping tobacco cool during periods of power outages. Click on Purchasing a Standby Generator for more information on purchasing a standby generator.

Curing Tips

In the event that an electrical storm should cause the loss of electrical current to the tobacco curing barn and a backup generator is not available, listed below are some tips recommended to minimize leaf damage.

For tobacco which is being cured, the damage that might be sustained is related to the stage of cure when the power is lost and to the condition of the tobacco when it goes in the barn. Tobacco which is in the very early or late stages of curing generally fairs the best when the power is out for extended periods.

The following guidelines for damage to occur are useful when generator capacity is limited or not available:

  • Yellowing (95 degrees WB/100 degrees DB) about 24 hours - This period can be extended if the tobacco can be cooled to near outside temperature before power outage occurs or as soon as possible after the outage occurs. Thereafter, the heat should be flushed every hour if the generator capacity is not sufficient to continue the cure normally. If generators are not available, prop open all air vents and doors to let as much heat as possible escape.

  • Late yellowing/early leaf drying (105 degrees WB/105-115 degrees DB) - about six hours - This is the most critical period for damage and the tobacco should be cooled as soon as possible by any means available, with the heat being flushed every hour as suggested above. If sufficient generator capacity is not available and your area is expecting a hard hit, tobacco would be potentially be in this stage of curing during a prolonged power outage might be more profitable to the grower if it were left in the field. (?)

  • Leaf drying (105 degrees WB/120-135 DB - about 24 hours - Extend the safe period by cooling as suggested above.

  • Stem drying (110 degrees WB/150 degrees + DB) - several days - Attention to these barns can be delayed in order to provide attention to barns in the earliest stages of curing.

    Barn Loading Considerations

    Damage to tobacco during power outages is usually more severe in boxes than racks and particularly when containers are not loaded uniformly or are loaded with wet tobacco. Therefore, tobacco harvested between now and the time the threat is past should be harvested dry, loaded uniformly, and perhaps the containers loaded lighter than normal to maximize air movement and cooling potential should a power outage occur.

    Insurance Coverage

    Growers who have insurance which requires a certain amount of hail damage before wind damage is in effect should be aware that hail damage is very difficult to prove following a hurricane. This is due to the fact that hail during a hurricane is rare, and severe wind damage may mask damage due to hail. Therefore, evidence such as photographs of the hail (with date and time) or eye witness accounts by neighbors could be helpful in these situations.

    This page (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/pitt/ag/tobacco/electricity.html) was created by Mitch Smith, County Extension Director, August 24, 2000. Last revised on September 13, 2005.

    Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.