Success StorySupport for Cigar Wrapper Tobacco Production in Kentucky and Tennessee



Support for Cigar Wrapper Tobacco Production in Kentucky and Tennessee

Author: William Bailey

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Tobacco

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

There has been a growing demand for air-cured cigar wrapper tobacco in the last 2 years in the dark and burley tobacco production areas of Kentucky and Tennessee. Connecticut Broadleaf is a type of tobacco that has traditionally been grown in certain areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts, but the growing demand for this type has caused tobacco dealers purchasing this type to encourage production in other areas of the country.  Cigar wrapper tobacco is a lower-yielding type of tobacco compared to dark and burley, and requires more management than other types of tobacco due to the requirement for near flawless leaf to be used for cigar wrappers.  In 2019 we began a research project to determine best management practices for production of Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco in the dark tobacco production area of Kentucky and Tennessee.  Research trials were conducted to determine optimal nitrogen rates, variety selection, and fungicide use patterns.  Good results were seen in this research in 2019 and these trials are being repeated in 2020.  We have published an extension fact sheet on general recommendations for Connecticut Broadleaf cigar wrapper production in our area, and a numbered extension publication is in review now.  We also plan to add a new chapter to the next edition of our Tobacco Production Guide for 2021-2022 devoted to cigar wrapper tobacco production.  All these efforts are to support the cigar wrapper tobacco industry, and it is our hope that this research, recommendations, and publications will help tobacco growers be profitable and competitive with this new type of tobacco in our region.






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