History says crop could outlast drought conditions
Aug 16, 2007—While the drought conditions in Kentucky and Tennessee may be causing worry with some growers, there is reason for some cautious optimism if farmers look at the statistics of the last few seasons. Gary Palmer of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture reported in the current edition of UK’s Tobacco News that when compared to the crop of 1988 – one of the best crops ever in the Bluegrass state – the rainfall comparison to that year and the current year are very comparable. Both years started off very dry. Palmer noted that a tobacco crop that starts with a lot of moisture needs a lot of moisture through the growing process, while a crop planted in drier conditions will require less moisture as it matures. The newsletter also advises not to re-apply nitrogen when rains come. As little as half an inch of rain can carry ammonia gas into the soil far enough to limit any loss, if the urea was incorporated into the soil. The early drought could affect the viability of herbicides, although most herbicides have a “reach-back” affect for several weeks. Rainfall or water application will activate the chemicals and kill the weeds.
Aug 16, 2007—While the drought conditions in Kentucky and Tennessee may be causing worry with some growers, there is reason for some cautious optimism if farmers look at the statistics of the last few seasons. Gary Palmer of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture reported in the current edition of UK’s Tobacco News that when compared to the crop of 1988 – one of the best crops ever in the Bluegrass state – the rainfall comparison to that year and the current year are very comparable. Both years started off very dry. Palmer noted that a tobacco crop that starts with a lot of moisture needs a lot of moisture through the growing process, while a crop planted in drier conditions will require less moisture as it matures. The newsletter also advises not to re-apply nitrogen when rains come. As little as half an inch of rain can carry ammonia gas into the soil far enough to limit any loss, if the urea was incorporated into the soil. The early drought could affect the viability of herbicides, although most herbicides have a “reach-back” affect for several weeks. Rainfall or water application will activate the chemicals and kill the weeds.
