FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2002
2002 Tobacco Tour to Help Growers Learn More Best Management Practices
FLORENCE---The 2002 Clemson University Tobacco Tour is scheduled to be held on July 9-10, 2002, at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center (Pee Dee REC) in Florence.
People who have been out-of-the-country in the last week prior to July 9, 2002, will not be allowed to attend because of the possible spread of foot and mouth disease in South Carolina livestock.
The tour which will begin at the tobacco facility in the rear of the Pee Dee REC, located off I-95 at TV Road (Exit 169), will include agronomic, disease, and insect tests, several of which show excellent results. Disease stops will include Granville wilt, TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus), and nematodes. Agronomic stops will include sucker control, RSP and OVT Variety Tests, herbicide and fertility tests. In addition to the tests at the Pee Dee REC, participants will tour a Regional Variety Farm Test, and on Wednesday, will visit on-farm tests ending the tour near Dillon at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Dewitt T. Gooden, Extension Agronomist, says, "At this point, the tobacco crop is on schedule; and we anticipate a good crop. Currently, most tobacco is between lay-by and contacts. We are experiencing a significant problem with TSWV. We will visit one on-farm test that illustrates the current best management of TSWV."
TSWV is a plant virus so named because tomatoes were the first plants on which it was found. Diagnosis is often misleading, if based on symptoms alone. Thrips are common transport vehicles for the viruses. TSWV first was discovered on tomatoes in 1919 and now is known to infect over 300 different hosts including tobacco.
Registration at the door will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9th. The tour is scheduled to end at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10th. Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Pee Dee REC.
For more information, call Dr. Dewitt T. Gooden at 843-669-1912, Ext. 203 or email dgooden@clemson.edu.