Tobacco GAP Certification Training 2014

1. Tobacco GAP Certification Training 2014 Dr. Bob Pearce Extension Tobacco Specialist

2. US TobaccoGAPManual Guidelines remain the same from 2013

3. US Tobacco Gap Manual

4. 2014 GAP Record Book Update

5. Brief History of Tobacco GAP • 2009-2011 • Each tobacco company administered their own version of GAP • Multiple sets of expectations • Multiple assessments • Jan 2012: General agreement that an industry-wide GAP was needed • NCDA took the lead role all developmental meetings held in Raleigh, NC • April 2012: Draft GAP document prepared • October 2012: GAP Document agreed to by tobacco companies • January 2013: “US Tobacco GAP” implemented • October 2013: Gap Connections formed • December 2013 Grower ID system launched

6. US Tobacco GAP • GAP Connections • Non-profit entity formed and supported by tobacco buying companies • Formed to administer the GAP program • Provide a framework to decide on GAP changes • What GAPs should be followed • Recordkeeping requirements • Training requirements • Run by a Board of Directors • Each company has a seat (12-14) • Growers representatives (2) http://www.gapconnections.com

7. US Tobacco GAP • GAP Connections • Developed a grower ID system • Secure database • Tracks training history • Only companies with which you have a contract will know your training history • Developing an audit process • Contractor agreed on • Pilot program for 2014 • Random Selection of Growers

8. GAP Continuing Education • Annual requirement for training? • Currently, Yes. • Training in each of the three main areas • Crop Management • Environmental Management • Labor Management

9. Record Book Changes from 2013 • By type • Air-cured • Fire-cured • Flue-cured • By field instead of topic • Transplanting • Fertilization • Pesticide • Topping • Harvesting • Increase emphasis on traceability

10. Records Checklist • If you currently use an alternative record keeping system that can supply the same information you do not have to use the provided templates. • Checklist is a tool for assuring that required records are kept, whether using GAP templates or another system

11. Required Records are Detailed • Transplants • Source of transplants • Seed lot number should be recorded • Variety name • Date seeded • Pesticides applied • Date transplanted

14. Required Records are Detailed • Fields • Each field individually identified • Soil test results • When and how much fertilizer • Which pesticide, when, and who applied • Rainfall amounts per event • Irrigation • Planting, topping, harvest dates

16. Required Records are Detailed • Curing Structures • Each barn individually identified • When housed • Spacing of sticks • How tobacco ordered/cased • When taken down

18. Efficient Record Keeping • Do as much as possible before start of season • Much of the General Records Packet can be completed preseason • Develop system of documenting practices daily • Carry notebook and fill out as completed • Pocket notebook, calendar, tablet computer, etc. • Call into central place as operations completed • Update records frequently • Ideally daily • Don’t try to remember anything !!! Document !!!!

19. GAP Principles for Variety Selection • Selection should be based on • Disease resistance • Curing characteristics and cured leaf quality • Yield • Holding ability • Review variety performance on your farm • Identify and test new varieties • Use LC seed

21. 3 Year Yield Average (No-Stress)

22. Suggested “New” Varieties Disease-free Moderateblack shank Strong black shank Fusarium • KT 212 • HB4488P • KT 204 • KT 209 • KT 210 • KT 210 • NC 7 • H 404 • HBO4P • N 126 May want to use Ridomil or similar fungicide where moderate to heavy black shank is expected

23. Gap Principles for Pest Control • Crop Management • Accurate Identification of the pest • Extension Agents/Specialists can help • Selection of effective and economical control methods • Tobacco Production Guide ID-160 • http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id160/id160.pdf • Assessing results of control method • Residue Reduction • NTRM reduction • Reduce weeds and suckers in cured leaf

24. GAP Principles for Pest Control • Environmental Management • Proper storage of pesticides • Secure (locked) • Away from tobacco storage • Reduce reliance on pesticides when possible • Selection of safest alternatives • Proper application methods • Correct rate • Calibration of spraying equipment

25. Field Disease Management • Use resistant varieties when available • Practice good sanitation to prevent spread • Wash off equipment • Sanitize equipment with 10% bleach • Don’t spread stalks in “clean” fields • Use appropriate pesticides when needed • Would Ridomil cure this ?

26. Field Disease Management • Use appropriate pesticides when needed • Black Shank • Ridomil • Transplant water application • Ultra-Flourish • Meta-Star • Leaf Spot Disease (target spot and frogeye) • Quadris • 1 time use on transplants at second clipping • 1 well timed application in the field when tobacco is knee to waist high • Satori • 1 well timed application in the field when tobacco is knee to waist high

27. Must have supplemental label at time of application

28. Must have supplemental label at time of application

29. Generic Quadris

30. Insect Management • Scout and Treat Approach • Walk field at least 2 times per week • Thresholds • 3 or more Flea beetles per plant • 10% of plants with aphid colony • 10% of plants with a worm

31. Insect Management • Preventative Approach • Use a neoncitinoid product in transplant water for aphid and flea beetle. • Low cost • Effective • Relatively safe • Use Coragen for worm control in transplant water • Effective • Relatively safe • Still need to scout in case of control failure

32. WeedManagement • Competition • Space • Light • Nutrient • Water • Harbor Disease • Physical Damage • Morningglories • Honeyvine Milkweed NTRM

33. Herbicide Options for Tobacco in Kentucky * Other Brand names: Acumen, Pendant 3.3 EC, and Stealth

35. New Formulations/Rates Spartan 4F Spartan Charge 10.2 oz/A 12.8 oz/A 15.2 oz/A • 8 oz/A • 10 oz/A • 12 oz/A • Use higher rate on fine textured soils or when pressure • from morningglory or yellow nutsedge is high. • Mix with Prowl or Command to improve grass control • Prowl H2O: 2 pts/A when mixed with Spartan • Command: 1.5 pts/A when mixed with Spartan

36. GAP Principles for Sucker Control • Apply appropriate sucker control materials to achieve good sucker control • Increase leaf yield and quality • Reduce NTRM • Minimize undesirable residues • MH residue a concern • Less than 80 ppm • Less than 50 ppm for some

37. Tips For Good Sucker Control • Use a combination of MH and DNA (Butralin, Prime+, Flupro) • 1.0 to 1.5 gallons MH • 0.5 gallons of DNA • Properly maintain spray equipment • Use nozzles that deliver a coarse spray • Pressure 20 to 30 psi • 3 nozzles per row maximizes coverage • Use adequate water (at least 50 G/A) • Do not spray in the heat of the day when plants are under stress • Spray fewer rows at a time

38. GAP Principles for Nutrient Management • Fertilization Should be based on: • Soil type • Crop Rotation • Soil test (no more than 2 years old) • Confirm fertilizers are appropriate for use on tobacco • Follow recommendations for manure use • Implement required nutrient management plans • If applying either fertilizer or manure a plan is required in KY!

39. Problem for 2014 • Fertilizer dealers report a shortage of 0-0-50 • Less 0-0-50 imported this year • More 0-0-50 being used on other high value crops • Maybe localized (some areas have may have adequate supply) • Why can’t we just switch to 0-0-60

40. High chloride in tobacco • Poor cured leaf color • dingy, muddy, variegated • Imparts unpleasant flavor and aroma to smoke • Reduces burn rate • Cause cured leaf to hold moisture • moldy stems / fat stems • high case can lead to rot during storage

41. Impact of Chloride on Cured Leaf Moisture

42. Effect of K source on leaf yield and Cl content 4 year avg. 240 lbs. K20/A

43. Problem for 2014 How do we respond? • Use soil test to determine potash need and apply no more than recommended • Apply up to 100 pounds of 0-0-60 per acre to provide the first 60 pounds of potash needed • If you did not apply 0-0-60 in fall • If you did not apply animal manures in the spring • Use 0-0-50 for remaining potash need if available • Use alternate sources of low Cl potash

44. Alternate Sources of Low Cl Potash • Check with dealer for local availability • 0-0-22 • K-Mag • Sul-Po-Mag • Trio • Use “tobacco” blends but check labeling for max chloride • 5-10-15 • 6-12-18

45. GAP Principles for Labor Management

46. GAPs for Labor Management • Determine your labor requirements and source of labor • PLAN AHEAD!! • Be realistic about your labor needs (every operation is different) • For burley tobacco production • 159 to 197 person-hours per acre total • 48 to 60 person-hours per acre cut and house • 51 to 73 person-hours per acre strip and market prep • Determine your peak demand

47. Peak Labor Demand (Example) • Assumptions: • 50 Ac of burley to harvest (mid August – September) • 50 person-hours per acre cut and house • 1 day off per week • 1/3 of remaining days not suitable for harvest (rain) • 10 hours working per day • Approximately 24 harvest days or about 2.1 Ac per day • 105 person hours per day • 10 to 11 workers everyday for 6 weeks

48. GAPs for Labor Management • Determine your labor requirements and source of labor • Family • Reliability ?? • Seasonal/Migrant Workers • Reliability ? • Authorized to work in US? • Farm Labor Contractor (FLC) • Reliability ? • Registered? • H2A Worker Program • Reliable • Higher out of pocket cost?

49. GAPs for Labor Management • Determine and comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. • Seasonal Workers • Migrant Workers • Have on file an I-9 form for all “paid” employees • Fair Labor Standards Act • Post FLSA Poster specific to “Agricultural Employees” • Overtime pay provisions do not apply for “agricultural” work • Minimum age requirements • Generally do not apply to minors working for parent owned farm • Must be over 16 to work in “hazardous” jobs on farm • Record keeping requirements • Payroll records should be kept for 3 years • Time record should be kept for 2 years

50. GAPs for Labor Management • Fair Labor Standards Act • Minimum wage provisions may apply • If you used more than 500 man-days of farm labor in any calendar quarter of the preceding calendar year. • Man-day = any day in which an employee does farm work for at least one hour • Does not apply to immediate family members • If you pay by piece-rate, specify expected minimum rate of output to insure hourly minimum wage rate is met. • Current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour