Tobacco

Overview

Tobacco production in Georgia involves more than 200 growers who produce flue-cured tobacco on more than 14,000 acres in 26 counties across the state.

Flue-cured tobacco is harvested a few leaves at a time beginning with the bottom of the stalk and progressing to the top over a period of 8 to 10 weeks.

Leaves are placed in a bulk curing barn where heated air is forced between the leaves to remove the moisture from the leaves over a period of 7 to 10 days. During this period tobacco not only dries, but turns from green to a golden yellow color. The temperature is increased following an established curing schedule to set the color precisely. This also establishes the level of reducing sugars in the tobacco resulting in the sweet aroma for which Georgia produced tobacco has always been known.

Tobacco is sold under contract to leaf purchasing and manufacturing companies, and the price per pound varies according to the quality of the leaf based on its stalk position, color, clarity and damage from disease or curing. Flue-cured tobacco is sold in large bales averaging 750 pounds each. Most processing is located in North Carolina and Virginia. Tobacco is shipped north via trucks, and once processed is stored for one or more years before being used in the manufacture of cigarettes.

Publications

Commercial and Professional Publications

• 2009 Tobacco Research Report
• 2012 Tobacco Research Report
• 2012 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests
• Heat Pump Dehumidification During the Curing of Flue-Cured Tobacco
• Irrigating Tobacco
• 2008 Tobacco Research Report
• 2011 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests
• 2007 Tobacco Research Report
• 2011 Tobacco Research Report
• Tobacco Research Report - 2010
• 1999 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests

General Publications

• 2001 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests
• 2000 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests
• 2010 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests

To see other publications, go to the CAES Publications site or the FACS Publications listing.

News

For the latest news about Extension, visit Georgia FACES. News you can use about Georgia family, agricultural, consumer and enviromental sciences.

• Resistant varieties saved Georgia tomatoes from viral destruction
• Weather dampens Sunbelt Expo
• Georgia tobacco gets surprise bump
• UGA Tifton lab sleuths plant viruses
• Georgia pecan, tobacco farmers eye unexpectedly good crops
• Summer weather treats Georgia row-crops well
• Major buyer quits Georgia tobacco
• Georgia tobacco yields worst in decades
• Volatile spring weather whips Georgia crops

Websites

UGA-affiliated sites

• Impact Statements: Tobacco
  Descriptions of Extension efforts to improve knowledge and practices related to tobacco.
• Tobacco
  UGA's tobacco site features links to the 2011 budgets, equipment availability, a grower's guide, upcoming events, pest control information, hotlines, and related links.

External sites

• International Tobacco Growers' Association
  Non-profit organization founded in 1984 with the objective of presenting the cause of millions of tobacco farmers to the world. Site features information about membership, social responsibility, tobacco itself, as well as a newsletter and information about upcoming events.
• Tobacco Associates
  Resources to assist manufacturers keep their products competitive in the global tobacco market.
• Tobacco Barn Retrofit Information
  Information pertaining to retrofitting tobacco curing barns.