As much of North Carolina's tobacco crop moves through layby, the latest issue of Tobacco Connection: Vol. 3, No. 2 (Summer 2026 Update) highlights several timely topics for growers and industry professionals.

This issue includes a reminder to register for the 2026 Tobacco Field Day on July 23 at the Oxford Tobacco Research Station, where NCSU faculty and students will present current tobacco research and production updates.

In this issue, we discuss drought-related considerations for irrigation, nitrogen management, and water use efficiency, as well as the final Thrips Flight and TSWV Risk Assessment Report, indicating that the major thrips flights associated with most TSWV transmission have passed across North Carolina. We also discuss weed management options following the discontinuation of Poast.

And as always, we encourage continued participation in Root Cause Reports to support statewide monitoring of corn, soybean, and tobacco production issues.