Archived Issues

A Strong Start

Summer is finally here. By the time this issue reaches you, the production season will be in full swing, and the weather is probably starting to get hot (or it’s already hot and getting hotter). We hope your season is off to a strong start.

Matt Mullen

Tobacco Farm Quarterly, for one, has had such a start. In just a year of publishing, our young magazine has grown considerably. We have increased the size of the magazine again this issue, adding more pages with stories of interest to tobacco farmers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers and advertisers. With your generous support, we’ve been able to put more resources into the magazine, making it more useful to our audience. And we’ll continue to improve our service. While you’re working the fields this summer, we’ll be working to make your magazine even better.

This issue is a good illustration of the progress we’ve made. Rocky Womack, a regular TFQ contributor, brings you tips to deal with summer’s hot weather in an article on proper irrigation techniques and information about the water needs of the plant.

With the rise in fertilizer prices, fertilization efficiency has become a hot topic. The University of Kentucky has recently lowered its recommended nitrogen rates for burley and dark tobacco to help growers become more efficient. Find their new guidelines on page 12.

In the coming months, the industry will continue keeping an eye on critical export markets. On page 18, read about the latest from Tobacco Associates, the farmer-funded organization promoting and developing export opportunities for flue-cured tobacco, and the latest success with its product development program.

For opinions on the future of U.S. growers and their ability to compete in the world market, see the interview with tobacco industry traveler Chuck Miglianti on page 20.

If you can find the time for a break this summer, consider visiting the Tobacco Farm Life Museum. In this issue, TFQ goes down to Kenly, N.C., to show you what’s been happening lately at the museum. Check it out on page 14.

And as always, we bring you World Leaf News, now in an expanded version with more tobacco reports from around the world.

Here’s to the arrival of summer. We hope that your season goes well, and we’ll see you again in August as we get closer to this year’s finish line.

Matt Mullen, Editor

matt@tobaccofarmquarterly.com