Tobacco GAP Certification Training 2014

Dr. Bob PearceExtension Tobacco Specialist

US Tobacco

GAPManual

Guidelines remain the same from 2013

US Tobacco Gap

Manual

2014 GAP Record Book

Update

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

US Tobacco GAPGAP 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

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

GAP Continuing Education

Annual requirement for training?– Currently, Yes.

Training in each of the three main areas– Crop Management – Environmental Management– Labor Management

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

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

Required Records are Detailed

Transplants – Source of transplants – Seed lot number should be recorded – Variety name– Date seeded – Pesticides applied– Date transplanted

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

Required Records are Detailed

Curing Structures – Each barn individually identified– When housed – Spacing of sticks– How tobacco ordered/cased– When taken down

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 !!!!

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

Black Shank % Survival

Variety 2009 2010 2012 Mean

HB 04PLC 22 3 18 14

HP 3307PLC 97 49 44 63

Hybrid 404LC 40 3 14 19

KT 204LC 100 66 79 82

KT 206LC 97 68 70 78

KT 209LC 98 85 91 91

KT 210LC 93 66 83 81

KTH 212LC 97 56 31 61

KY 14 X L8LC 3 0 2 2

N 7371LC 93 30 39 54

NC 2002LC 12 0 - -

NC 7LC 83 16 38 46

TN 90LC 90 57 46 64

Seasonal Avg. 71 38 46 55

3 Year Yield Average (No-Stress)

Hybrid

404

LC

NC 7LC

HB 04P

LC

KT 204

LC

KT 209

LC

KT 206

LC

KY 14

X L8L

C

KTH 212

LC

KT 210

LC

N 737

1LC

HP 330

7PLC

NC 200

2LC

TN 90L

C0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Cu

red

Lea

f Y

ield

(lb

s./A

)

Suggested “New” Varieties

Disease-freeModerate black 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

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

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

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 ?

Field Disease ManagementUse 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

Must have supplemental label at time of application

Must have supplemental label at time of application

Generic Quadris

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

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

WeedManagement

Competition– Space– Light– Nutrient– Water

Harbor Disease

Physical Damage– Morningglories– Honeyvine Milkweed

NTRM

Herbicide Options for Tobacco in Kentucky

Brandname

Chemical name

Grasses Nutsedge (Cyperus)

Pigweed(Amaranthus)

Ragweed(Ambrosia)

Command Clomazone ++++ + + ++++

Devrinol Napropamide ++++ + ++ ++

Prowl* Pendimethalin ++++ N ++++ +

Spartan Sulfentrazone ++ ++++ ++++ +

Poast Sethoxydim ++++ N N N

* Other Brand names: Acumen, Pendant 3.3 EC, and Stealth

Herbicide Trial

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

CHK Mech Prowl Command Spartan + Command

Washington County

New Formulations/Rates

Spartan 4F

8 oz/A

10 oz/A

12 oz/A

Spartan Charge

10.2 oz/A

12.8 oz/A

15.2 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

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

Tips For Good Sucker ControlUse 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

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!

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

High chloride in tobacco

Poor cured leaf color– dingy, muddy, variegated

Imparts unpleasant flavor and aroma to smokeReduces burn rateCause cured leaf to hold moisture– moldy stems / fat stems– high case can lead to rot during storage

Impact of Chloride on Cured Leaf Moisture

% Cl in cured leaf

% Moisture at 70% RH

% Moisture at 80% RH

0.9 17.0 21.7

1.4 18.0 23.1

1.7 18.2 23.6

1.9 18.5 23.9

2.1 19.0 24.6

2.3 18.9 24.9

Effect of K source on leaf yield and

Cl content

Muriate Cl Lbs. SO4 Yield Cl content %

0 0 282 2774 0.36

100 50 211 2854 0.87

200 100 141 2903 1.28

300 150 71 2951 1.60

400 200 0 2935 1.94

240 lbs. K20/A 4 year avg.

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 availableUse alternate sources of low Cl potash

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

GAP Principles for Labor Management

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

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

GAPs for Labor Management Determine your labor requirements and source of labor– Family

Reliability ??

– Seasonal/Migrant WorkersReliability ?

Authorized to work in US?

– Farm Labor Contractor (FLC)Reliability ?

Registered?

– H2A Worker ProgramReliable

Higher out of pocket cost?

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 ActPost 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

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

GAPs for Labor Management

Determine and comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.– Seasonal Workers – Migrant Workers

Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act applies – Post MSPA poster

Disclosure

Wages

Housing

Transportation

GAPs for Labor Management

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act– Disclosure

Each migrant worker must be provided with a written disclosure at the time of recruitment (also posted at worksite)

– In the worker’s native language

Each seasonal worker must be provided with a verbal disclosure at time of recruitment and written disclosure upon request

– Items to be disclosed 1. Place of employment 2. Wages rates to be paid3. The crops and kinds of activities involved4. The period of employment 5. Any benefits (transportation/housing) provides and charges 6. The existence of any strike or other work stoppage at jobsite7. Any relationship between employer and suppliers to workers8. Whether worker compensation insurance is provided

GAPs for Labor Management

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act– Wages

Pay all wages when due– At the rate disclosed– Not less than minimum wage– At least semi-monthly – Deposit and report any taxes withheld

Provide worker with itemized statement of wage calculations– Employer name address and EIN or SS number

Include any deductions for housing etc. that were disclosed initially

– Housing (if provided to migrant workers)Must be inspected prior to occupancy

Certificate of occupancy posted on-site

Contact information for housing provider posted on-site

GAPs for Labor Management

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act– Transportation (if provided)

Any vehicles used must be properly insured.

Operated by properly licensed driver.

Vehicle must meet all federal and state safety standards

– Additional Requirements for Farm labor Contractor

Certifications to provide transportation required

Certification to drive required

GAPs for Labor Management Determine and comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.– Farm Labor Contractor (FLC)

You negotiate a price and pay the agreed upon price to a crew leader. Crew leader schedules the work, recruits and pays the individual workers.

Fair Labor Standards Act applies

Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act applies – While workers are putting in your crop they are likely

considered to be in “joint employment” Both you and the FLC are responsible for compliance

Check that FLC is registered with the Dept. of Labor

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/statutes/FLCList.htm

GAPs for Labor Management Determine and comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.– H2A Guest Worker Program

Fair Labor Standards Act applies

Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act applies

Additional Requirements of the H2A Program – Post H2A Worker Rights Poster – Pay worker’s visa fees– Provide transportation to and from worker’s home– Provide transportation to and from work site– Provide housing while in employment– Guarantee at least ¾ of work hours specified in work contract

GAPs for Labor Management

H2A Guest Worker Program– Start Early with Process– Choose a Reputable Agent

Assist with contract terms and guarantees

File applications with appropriate agencies

Assist with advertising requirements

Assist with worker recruitment

Assist with visa processing

GAPs for Labor Management

Implement a worker training program– Crop Integrity

Grade separation

Moisture and bale weight requirements

NTRM reduction

– Safety General farm safety

Tobacco barn safety

Green tobacco sickness

Questions?