Stephen J. Toth, Jr. and Thomas A. Melton, editors

The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.

Date: May 25, 1999

From: Tom Melton, Extension Plant Pathologist

Much of the Georgia tobacco crop is being held back due to dry soil conditions. On May 12, Paul Bertrand, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Georgia, wrote:

"There has been an obvious increase in active blue mold in the past seven days. This does not take into account any additional activity triggered by rains last Thursday and Friday (May 6-7) or showers early this week. Tobacco is growing rapidly and Acrobat MZ use is becoming more expensive and complicated (coverage requirements).

Acrobat MZ will slow blue mold down where properly applied, but it will not clean up or eliminate existing infections.

Growers have complained about continuing to see active blue mold behind Acrobat MZ treatments. Keep four factors in mind when dealing with such a situation:

1. Acrobat MZ will slow down but not totally prevent blue mold increase. This will be most apparent when treatments respond to visible infection.
2. When dealing with blue mold you are always 7 days behind when pondering what you see versus when infection occurred.
3. The past three weeks have each had 2 to 4 consecutive days favorable to blue mold in some sections of the tobacco belt.
4. There is no product labeled or not that is as effective as Acrobat MZ for for control/suppression of blue mold in tobacco.

Last week, agents in Claxton, Reidsville and Lyons observed serious infection of blue mold in these areas for the first time this season. These outbreaks seem to be the result of fronts which moved across the area the week before and dropping only minimal amounts of rainfall."

Tomato spotted wilt virus continues to travel across the Georgia tobacco production area. Earlier-planted tobacco appears to have higher levels of plants showing symtoms of the virus or which have died from the disease. Numerous agents are reporting fields with greater than 50% stand losses. Several reports have indicated stand losses averaging 1% loss per day. Statewide average stand losses have already surpassed the 20% level, which was the season average for 1997.

Numerous growers who have fields which are approaching the 50% loss level are questioning the future of continuing to care for the crop. Missing plants will result in over-grown remaining plants which received excessive fertilizer and will produce lower quality leaf. In most cases, it appears that insured levels are not sufficient to allow growers to abandon the crop and still pay the production costs of the crop to this point. Often affected fields are lumped together on the same policy with the entire farm and the crop must be carried through the season before any settlement can be reached.

Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Last modified on May 25, 1999 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.