Dark Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee

05/07/2026

Kentucky-Tennessee To***co Growers: We were notified this week that we have approval for a Section 18 emergency use exemption for Excalia fungicide on burley and dark to***co in Kentucky and Tennessee. The active ingredient in Excalia is inpyrfluxam and it is very effective against target spot disease. Under this exemption, Excalia can be used for the 2026 crop between May 15 and October 1, 2026. The use rate is 2 to 4 oz/A per application with a seasonal limit of 8 oz/A per season. No more than 3 applications can be made and no more that 2 applications can be made without alternating to another fungicide such as Quadris. Applications of Excalia should be at least 14 days apart and Excalia has a 14-day preharvest interval. Growers must follow all use instructions associated with this exemption and must have possession of a copy of the Section 18 label during mixing and application. Label can be found at:

02/16/2026

Reminder about summer to***co internship opportunity for interested college students. Deadline to apply is next Monday, February 23. Apply at:

This is a summer position. Duties would include to***co plot establishment (transplanting), plot maintenance (weeding, topping, sucker control), crop scouting, bloom evaluation, insect and disease evaluation, data collection and data entry, assistance in preparation of to***co plot tours and farm vi...

02/04/2026

Summer Internship opportunity in to***co research for college students! See below. Application deadline is February 23.

08/14/2025

Final Reminder: Dark To***co Twilight Tour is tonight, August 14, at the Murray State University West Farm at 336 Robertson Road N., Murray KY. Registration begins at 5:30 and tours will start loading around 5:45. Hope to see many of you there tonight!

08/12/2025

2025 Dark To***co Twilight Tour is this Thursday, August 14 at the Murray State University West Farm at 336 Robertson Road N., Murray KY. Registration begins at 5:30 PM with tours going out around 5:45 PM. Catfish dinner following the tours.

07/21/2025

Last Reminder: Corn-Soybean-To***co Field Day tomorrow at UKREC, Princeton KY. 1205 Hopkinsville Street, Princeton KY 42445. Registration begins at 7 am and tours begin at 8 am. Flyer below:

07/17/2025

Reminder: Corn, Soybean, and To***co Field Day at UKREC (1205 Hopkinsville Street, Princeton KY 42445) will be held next Tuesday July 22. Registration begins at 7 am and tours begin at 8 am. Hope to see many to***co growers there. We will be talking about red leaf burley production, angular leaf spot management, new dark variety development, burley plant populations, low alkaloid burley, and Quadris effectiveness against target spot. Flyer is below:

06/24/2025

Need extra plants? Kent Boyd in Hopkinsville has extra dark to***co plants, phone 270-881-2478.

06/24/2025

Reminder: To***co, Beef & More Field Day is this Thursday, June 26 at the Highland Rim AgResearch & Education Center in Springfield TN. Registration begins at 8 am. Field Day flyer:

06/12/2025

There have been above average numbers of thrips this spring in west Kentucky, which means we could see above average amounts of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) that is transmitted by thrips from host weeds to to***co. Residual insecticides used at transplanting (Admire Pro, Platinum, or generics) have reduced TSWV infection by about 30% in our research. Trying to spray for thrips after transplanting is not worthwhile since thrips don't actually feed on to***co, they just can transmit the virus when they land on it. Look for burned areas and burned-out veins on one-side of infected plants, and remove those plants out of the field so thrips can't pick up the virus from already-infected plants and infect new plants.

05/05/2025

Be on the lookout for aphids in greenhouses during this wet period as plants are being held. We found green aphids in our greenhouse this morning. Look for black sooty mold first on the tops of the leaves (ours was around the curtains-first photo below), then aphids on the underside of leaves (second photo). You may also see winged aphids that look like black gnats with large wings (third and forth photos). These winged aphids adults are where the wingless aphids the do the damage are coming from. Control aphids with Orthene (or other acephate product) applied at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Drench areas thoroughly where heavy infestations are seen.