skychaser
Well-Known Member
Every year I get my field inspected by our local USDA agent for viruses. I must be certified virus free in order to export seed to the EU. The virus they are mainly concerned with is PTSV, which is actually a potato virus. Although PTSV has never been observed in tobacco, it has been induced in the lab and shown that it could possibly infect tobacco. PTSV has never been seen on potatoes in this region and has not been seen in the US in over 20 years. It is considered to be eradicated here in the US by the USDA. Never the less, a filed inspection is required for it during the active growing season in order to export.
I got my inspection on Tuesday and passed with flying colors. No PTSV, (big surprise) and no viruses or bacterial infections of any kind on any of our plants, tobaccos, vegetables or flowers. He also found no signs of any insect damage of any kind. The only thing he did find was some abnormal looking leaves on a few of our Pinto Beans which he said was caused heat stress fallowed by a heavy watering. I forgot the term he used. I'll have to call him back and ask so I can read up on it, but he said it was due to the plants trying to uptake to much water too quickly after being heat stressed. Keeping things properly watered has been a challenge this year, partially due to one of our well pumps being down for a week, and due to this July now moving into the top 10 hottest and driest ever.
Last year he said we did an "excellent" job of weed control. This year he said we did a "fantastic" job of weed control and said our operation was "quite exceptional overall and the best he has ever seen". And not one drop of pesticide of any kind has been used here. No fertilizer either. We are 100% organic. Makes me feel pretty good knowing all our hard work has paid off.
He is pretty generous when it comes to the bill for his time and spends about twice the time here that he actually bills us for, at $50 per hour. Most of his time is spent inspecting wheat, hay, potatoes and straw for export. He also inspects many local nurseries and vegetable farms for the local markets, but we are the only farm he inspects that is focused solely on seed production. And we are definitely the only tobacco seed producer in the area. I really enjoy his annual visits and I know he does too. We've learned a lot from him over the past few years and he enjoys a break from seeing the same ole things over and over again. And we have taught him a lot about tobacco.
Here is a partial view of our main field taken about a week ago. It slopes away to the south and east and is impossible to get it all in one photo.
I got my inspection on Tuesday and passed with flying colors. No PTSV, (big surprise) and no viruses or bacterial infections of any kind on any of our plants, tobaccos, vegetables or flowers. He also found no signs of any insect damage of any kind. The only thing he did find was some abnormal looking leaves on a few of our Pinto Beans which he said was caused heat stress fallowed by a heavy watering. I forgot the term he used. I'll have to call him back and ask so I can read up on it, but he said it was due to the plants trying to uptake to much water too quickly after being heat stressed. Keeping things properly watered has been a challenge this year, partially due to one of our well pumps being down for a week, and due to this July now moving into the top 10 hottest and driest ever.
Last year he said we did an "excellent" job of weed control. This year he said we did a "fantastic" job of weed control and said our operation was "quite exceptional overall and the best he has ever seen". And not one drop of pesticide of any kind has been used here. No fertilizer either. We are 100% organic. Makes me feel pretty good knowing all our hard work has paid off.
He is pretty generous when it comes to the bill for his time and spends about twice the time here that he actually bills us for, at $50 per hour. Most of his time is spent inspecting wheat, hay, potatoes and straw for export. He also inspects many local nurseries and vegetable farms for the local markets, but we are the only farm he inspects that is focused solely on seed production. And we are definitely the only tobacco seed producer in the area. I really enjoy his annual visits and I know he does too. We've learned a lot from him over the past few years and he enjoys a break from seeing the same ole things over and over again. And we have taught him a lot about tobacco.
Here is a partial view of our main field taken about a week ago. It slopes away to the south and east and is impossible to get it all in one photo.