Dark Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee

06/17/2026

Anyone needing a few extra dark to***co plants? The UK to***co research program in Lexington has the following small quantities of dark plants available free of charge:
14 trays KTD17
21 trays NL Madole
21 trays KY171

Must pick up in Lexington.

Please contact Andrea Webb if interested: [email protected] or 606-271-8614.

06/17/2026

Incidence of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) seems to be higher than normal this year in KY and TN. Normal infection rates for KY and TN are usually around 0.5% of the plants in a field, but this year infection rates may be more like 1 to 2% or even more in some fields. As this virus is transmitted by thrips that do not actually feed on to***co, their presence on the crop is too infrequent to justify foliar insecticide applications after transplanting to try to control thrips. Standard applications of imidacloprid (Admire or generics) or thiamethoxam (Platinum, Durivo, or generics) at transplanting will reduce infection by about 30%. TSWV symptoms include a burning or yellowing on one side of the plant, with burning often following secondary veins. Appearance of infected plants can look somewhat different in burley and dark to***co (see images below).

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.