Annual tobacco meeting Feb. 15
By
David Dugan-
The 2010 tobacco year was not one that will go down in our memory as a good year. The marketing of the crop was by far the hardest year for producers in the post-buyout era. We have seen some increase in the tobacco being accepted at the local receiving station after the opening week, which was a nightmare for producers in most instances. I am sure most people have heard stories about how unpredictable the market has been at the receiving station with tobacco being turned away one day and sold at a good price just a few days later.
Another option was to sell the tobacco at a local auction. This was an option that provided producers with a market for the crop that was rejected at the receiving station, or for those producers who did not have a contract. This market has also improved in the last few weeks.
In addition to these local marketing options, some local producers have sold the crop at other receiving stations ran by other companies, and recently the Burley Co-op has purchased some tobacco. While at the Tobacco Expo, I was told the price has recently increased at the Burley Co-op, too.
Producers have no control over the curing conditions or the market. Next year is another year, and for farmers, this is a common theme. It is always a gamble. We depend on the weather and can’t control it regardless if we are producing soybeans, tobacco, hay, corn or livestock. So, the question is: Should farmers continue to raise tobacco in 2011?
The weather conditions could be better, but they could be worse. Only time will tell.
When it comes to raising tobacco, one of the considerations should depend on a contract. Though a contract does not guarantee good weather or a market, it does give producers the best chance to sell the crop for the best price.
For producers who are either planning to grow tobacco or considering growing a crop in 2011, you may want to mark your calendar for this upcoming producer meeting. The meeting is free, but I would appreciate anyone who plans to attend the meeting to RSVP by calling the OSU Extension Office so we have a count. The Burley Co-op will furnish a light meal prior to the educational meeting.
The meal will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at North Adams High School in Seaman.
The meeting will feature Dr. Bob Pearce, University of Kentucky Tobacco Specialist. We will also discuss the results of some of the on-farm research we did in 2010 in southern Ohio. We did fertility tests with different levels of nitrogen, black shank variety trials, fusarium wilt variety trials, and sucker control studies. There will be addition things added to the program in the coming days.
Please RSVP by noon on Monday, Feb. 14 at any of the following numbers: (937) 544-2339, 378-6716, or 393-1918. You can also e-mail me at dugan.46@osu.edu.
Cow School update
• I have additional information about the Cow School that starts on Feb. 3. The program will be offered at Eastern Brown High School, starting at 7 p.m. Please contact one of the three numbers in the above information to RSVP. There is no charge for this program. Remember, it is for five consecutive Thursday nights. Check out my recent newsletter (Ag Buzz) on http://brown.osu.edu or my article in this newspaper the first week in January.
Getting timely information to you
• We are very fortunate to have local newspapers and local radio that provide OSU Extension the ability to present information to the public in Adams, Brown and Highland counties. If you would like to hear updates on the local radio, here are the times that I am currently scheduled to be on. I am on Monday mornings on 105.5 FM (Buckeye Country) around 6:50 a.m.; on Tuesdays at 6 a.m. and noon on 99.5 Max FM; on Friday morning at 6:50 a.m. on 105.5 FM (Buckeye Country); at 12:30 p.m. on C-103 Country; and the third Friday of the month I am on WFTM 1240 AM in Maysville, Ky.
Even more timely might be the use of e-mail. I currently have mailing lists that I have several people on and would be happy to add you to these mailing lists. Simply send me an e-mail at dugan.46@osu.edu and let me know which of the following lists you would like to be added to. The lists include row crops, tobacco, beef cattle, dairy, swine, sheep, vegetables, forages, honey bees, wine grapes, and goats.
In some cases, I will mail announcements of upcoming meetings, but for the most part I use these mailing lists to send information from specialists.
• Farmer’s Tax Guides are available free at OSU Extension Offices while supplies last.
The 2010 Ohio Corn, Soybean, and Forage Performance Trials, printed by Ohio’s Country Journal, are available now at the OSU Extension Offices.
Pesticide Re-certification dates for Adams, Brown, and Highland counties are as follows: Feb. 9 at Eastern Brown High School starting at 5:30 p.m.; and Feb. 22 at Whiteoak High School starting at noon. You must pre-register at least five days prior to the class date. Meal and handouts are included in the $35 fee that can be paid at any of the three county extension offices in person or by mail.
There will be a couple of dates for Pesticide License Testing announced soon.[[In-content Ad]]
Another option was to sell the tobacco at a local auction. This was an option that provided producers with a market for the crop that was rejected at the receiving station, or for those producers who did not have a contract. This market has also improved in the last few weeks.
In addition to these local marketing options, some local producers have sold the crop at other receiving stations ran by other companies, and recently the Burley Co-op has purchased some tobacco. While at the Tobacco Expo, I was told the price has recently increased at the Burley Co-op, too.
Producers have no control over the curing conditions or the market. Next year is another year, and for farmers, this is a common theme. It is always a gamble. We depend on the weather and can’t control it regardless if we are producing soybeans, tobacco, hay, corn or livestock. So, the question is: Should farmers continue to raise tobacco in 2011?
The weather conditions could be better, but they could be worse. Only time will tell.
When it comes to raising tobacco, one of the considerations should depend on a contract. Though a contract does not guarantee good weather or a market, it does give producers the best chance to sell the crop for the best price.
For producers who are either planning to grow tobacco or considering growing a crop in 2011, you may want to mark your calendar for this upcoming producer meeting. The meeting is free, but I would appreciate anyone who plans to attend the meeting to RSVP by calling the OSU Extension Office so we have a count. The Burley Co-op will furnish a light meal prior to the educational meeting.
The meal will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at North Adams High School in Seaman.
The meeting will feature Dr. Bob Pearce, University of Kentucky Tobacco Specialist. We will also discuss the results of some of the on-farm research we did in 2010 in southern Ohio. We did fertility tests with different levels of nitrogen, black shank variety trials, fusarium wilt variety trials, and sucker control studies. There will be addition things added to the program in the coming days.
Please RSVP by noon on Monday, Feb. 14 at any of the following numbers: (937) 544-2339, 378-6716, or 393-1918. You can also e-mail me at dugan.46@osu.edu.
Cow School update
• I have additional information about the Cow School that starts on Feb. 3. The program will be offered at Eastern Brown High School, starting at 7 p.m. Please contact one of the three numbers in the above information to RSVP. There is no charge for this program. Remember, it is for five consecutive Thursday nights. Check out my recent newsletter (Ag Buzz) on http://brown.osu.edu or my article in this newspaper the first week in January.
Getting timely information to you
• We are very fortunate to have local newspapers and local radio that provide OSU Extension the ability to present information to the public in Adams, Brown and Highland counties. If you would like to hear updates on the local radio, here are the times that I am currently scheduled to be on. I am on Monday mornings on 105.5 FM (Buckeye Country) around 6:50 a.m.; on Tuesdays at 6 a.m. and noon on 99.5 Max FM; on Friday morning at 6:50 a.m. on 105.5 FM (Buckeye Country); at 12:30 p.m. on C-103 Country; and the third Friday of the month I am on WFTM 1240 AM in Maysville, Ky.
Even more timely might be the use of e-mail. I currently have mailing lists that I have several people on and would be happy to add you to these mailing lists. Simply send me an e-mail at dugan.46@osu.edu and let me know which of the following lists you would like to be added to. The lists include row crops, tobacco, beef cattle, dairy, swine, sheep, vegetables, forages, honey bees, wine grapes, and goats.
In some cases, I will mail announcements of upcoming meetings, but for the most part I use these mailing lists to send information from specialists.
• Farmer’s Tax Guides are available free at OSU Extension Offices while supplies last.
The 2010 Ohio Corn, Soybean, and Forage Performance Trials, printed by Ohio’s Country Journal, are available now at the OSU Extension Offices.
Pesticide Re-certification dates for Adams, Brown, and Highland counties are as follows: Feb. 9 at Eastern Brown High School starting at 5:30 p.m.; and Feb. 22 at Whiteoak High School starting at noon. You must pre-register at least five days prior to the class date. Meal and handouts are included in the $35 fee that can be paid at any of the three county extension offices in person or by mail.
There will be a couple of dates for Pesticide License Testing announced soon.[[In-content Ad]]