ID-160: Burley and Dark Tobacco Production Guide, 2025-2026

Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce, Travis Legleiter, Edwin Ritchey, Will Snell, Ric Bessin, Wayne Sanderson, Ann Fisher | Jan. 27, 2025 (Major Revision)

Labor challenges and increasing production costs have continued to reduce profit margins for all tobacco growers. According to the 2022 Ag Census results, the total number of tobacco farms in the U.S. dropped to 2987. This was 3250 fewer tobacco farms than reported in the 2017 Ag Census. Growers choosing to remain in tobacco production must continue to take steps to be efficient while maintaining a high-level of cured leaf quality and productivity. The recommendations described in this guide represent the best-known practices for producing high yields and good quality burley and dark tobacco.

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AGR-269: Barn Management for Curing Connecticut Broadleaf Cigar Wrapper Tobacco

Andy Bailey | Dec. 6, 2022 (New)

Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is used primarily for cigar wrapper and binder and was traditionally grown in Connecticut and Massachusetts but has also been grown in Pennsylvania. In recent years, these areas have not been able to supply leaf buyers with enough wrapper leaf to meet the increasing demand for natural leaf cigar wrapper. Therefore, growers in Tennessee and Kentucky have been producing Connecticut Broadleaf to market as cigar wrapper tobacco.

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AGR-267: Ordering/Casing Burley and Dark Tobacco - Post-Curing Management Practices

Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce | Sep. 8, 2022 (New)

Market preparation of burley and dark tobacco involves removing cured tobacco from the curing facilities (takedown), removing the stalks from the stick (bulking), removing cured leaves from tobacco stalks (stripping) and packaging for the market (baling). These processes can only be performed when cured leaves are sufficiently pliable to avoid breakage.

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AGR-266: Chemical Topping of Burley Tobacco

Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce | Jun. 17, 2022 (New)

Pastures for sheep and goats are fertilized to ensure a reliable supply of energy, protein, and other nutrients for a long season of grazing. Management of plant nutrients maintains a balance of improved grasses and legumes and improves forage species competitiveness with many pasture weeds. The most important part of obtaining fertilizer recommendations is collecting a representative soil sample to send to the lab.

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AGR-258: Production of Connecticut Broadleaf Cigar Wrapper Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennesse

Andy Bailey, Bob Pearce | Sep. 29, 2020 (New)

There has been recent interest from tobacco dealers in purchasing Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco produced in Kentucky and Tennessee. Connecticut Broadleaf has traditionally been grown in areas of the Connecticut River Valley in Connecticut and Massachusetts. However, decreased production in this area along with increased demand for natural leaf cigar wrappers has caused tobacco dealers to pursue other tobacco-producing areas for this type. At first glance, Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco resembles dark air-cured tobacco, but generally has enhanced leaf quality characteristics that can increase its potential value for use as cigar binders and wrappers.

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Effect of Tray Type and Tray Covering on Wicking Speed, Germination, and Spiral Rooting of Tobacco: Plant and Soil Sciences Research Report (vol. 1, no. 3, 2012)

Andy Bailey | Jan. 31, 2013 (New)

Poor tray wicking and spiral rooting continue to be recurring concerns in tobacco float systems. The objectives of the research discussed here were to compare media wicking speed in two types of tobacco float trays, and to evaluate the effect of fabric tray covering on tobacco seed germination and spiral rooting.

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AGR-196: Double Crop Curing Dark Fired Tobacco

Andy Bailey | Sep. 18, 2007 (New)

Double crop curing is the practice of curing two crops of tobacco in the same barn and growing season. The practice of double crop curing has been utilized by some dark-fired tobacco growers for several years but has increased in recent years as growers have attempted to consolidate operations a nd incre a se efficienc y of production. Tobacco buying companies have started accepting the crop earlier than in the past to better accommodate this practice.

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AGR-154: Dark Tobacco Sucker Control

Andy Bailey | Jul. 11, 2007 (Minor Revision)

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AGR-158: Dealing with Chemical Injury in Tobacco

Andy Bailey, J.D. Green, Gary Palmer | Mar. 1, 2006 (Minor Revision)