Source:  NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 3/16/21


Things on the tobacco front have been rather quiet over the last few weeks, aside from major news about the USDA Quality Loss Adjustment Program signup and the easing of EU tariffs on US ag commodities. Frankly, we’ve not had this much good news in a long time – particularly not all at once.

Switching gears a bit, tobacco greenhouses are looking great at the moment. I’m very impressed with our plant stand, specifically as I think back to the weather we had around seeding in mid/late-February (cloudy/poor sunlight). Unless things go off the rails over the next three to four weeks (fingers crossed that they don’t), I anticipate that we’ll have a good supply of plants  – though it may be a little tight given the big increase in acres this year. If you have or need extra plants, be sure to contact your local County Agent as we get into the transplanting season.

The weather has also been absolutely beautiful over the last couple of weeks and we’re seeing a lot of field work take place. This is another good sign, considering how wet and cool February was. As growers begin the shift to field preparation, questions about weed control programs are starting to pop up. These conversations have been pointed, timely, and are very important as we start the 2021 tobacco season. Weed control in 2021 is likely to be a much larger talking point than it was in 2020 – and not necessarily for reasons that are extremely obvious.

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