Agriculture and Agribusiness

Tobacco Production, Curing and Grading

Tobacco is paid on grade, and grade is decided as much in the curing barn as in the field, which is why two growers with the same crop can be paid very differently. This course follows the leaf from seedbed to sale. Delegates work through seedbed and float tray production, transplanting and the plant population that suits the market type. Nutrition is addressed with the nitrogen management that determines leaf quality rather than only yield. Topping and sucker control follow, since these decide leaf body and weight. Pest and disease control is covered, including the residue limits buyers enforce. Reaping is addressed by leaf position and ripeness, which is the judgement the whole crop depends on. Curing is covered in operational detail for flue cured and air cured leaf: yellowing, colour fixing, drying and the fuel cost that increasingly decides margin. Grading is addressed against buyer classes. The course closes on baling, presentation, the auction or contract floor, and on grower profitability.