As many are probably aware, we are getting reports from multiple sources that the availability of potassium sulfate (sulfate of potash, 0-0-50) for the upcoming growing MORE »
Introduction Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for the production of flue-cured tobacco in North Carolina. A healthy crop of flue-cured tobacco will require 12-15 pounds per acre of the nutrient (1,2); MORE »
Introduction The seed of noxious weed species has recently been discovered in cured tobacco leaves destined for export from the United States. The tobacco industry was contacted in early 2013 and notification MORE »
Introduction Potassium (K) is an essential plant nutrient for the production of high-yielding, high-quality flue-cured tobacco with a healthy crop requiring about 90 pounds per acre for optimum growth (1-3). The tobacco MORE »
Two species of hornworm caterpillars feed on tobacco and other plants. Tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) and tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) are easy to confuse. They both have similar appearance, life cycles, and eat MORE » – from 
Entomology
Recent concerns with weed seed contamination in tobacco are highlight in the Southeast Farm Press which also describes research at NC State on tobacco weed managment. More information Weed seed contamination could cripple U.S. MORE »
Yesterday, we held our annual tobacco agent training session at the Johnston County Extension Center. I always look forward to sharing our results with this group, learning about insect issues in their counties, MORE » – from Entomology
In the past week, we’ve noticed a dramatic jump in the number of hornworm caterpillars and eggs in our test plots at the Upper Coastal Plain Research Station near Rocky Mount. As these caterpillars can MORE »
Caterpillars Large and Small So far this year, tobacco budworm numbers of in our research plots at both Kinston and Rocky Mount have remained below threshold (less than 10% of plants infested). However, MORE »
This week, I have received several questions about possible phytotoxcity associated with insecticide applications directed against tobacco budworm. The three seperate phone calls and emails each involved a different insecticide (all caterpillar materials), MORE »
The 2013 NC State University Tobacco Tour is scheduled for July 15-16 in eastern NC and July 17 in the Piedmont. Registration will be available soon, and details will be posted at the MORE »
I received my first tobacco budworm calls for 2013 today, so it’s safe to say that budworm moths are active in eastern North Carolina. The threshold for tobacco budworm management is 10% infested MORE »
It has been a relative quiet spring for insect questions in tobacco, but last week I received several calls asking about aphid management in tobacco greenhouses. Aphids are an occasional pest in tobacco MORE »
The 2013 Flue-Cured Guide is available in a PDF format for MORE »
As much as you may dread investing anything more into this year’s tobacco crop, you may want to consider a few things that still must be done to ensure proper disease management. With MORE »
Four years ago, Hannah Burrack started her new job at NC State University as assistant professor with boundless energy and fresh ideas. Last week, the Southern Region IPM Center honored her with their MORE »
