Tobacco Grading

[Michibacy]

I know it's a HUGE undertaking and possibly will be shot down, but I want to know what your opinions are on, if FTT should begin a leaf grading schedule like there was back in days gone by. Have regional assessors, a grading scale and some kind of certification from FTT. I understand this wouldn't be very important for home growers, but any commercial growers I would imagine would love to have a good certifying of their tobacco's quality.

What say you?

 

[BarG]

Nah! I would rather stay away from that. This is all about the home growers and suppliers we trust, without adding a new regulation nation button.

 

[johnlee1933]

Nah! I would rather stay away from that. This is all about the home growers and suppliers we trust, without adding a new regulation nation button.

Agreed Tim.

 

[workhorse_01]

I'm not big on adding more restraints .

Agreed Tim.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

BANG!

 

[Michibacy]

Thought I would ask, apparently that idea had a big bullseye on it, oh well

 

[BigBonner]

Grading would be useless . The reason is grading would be a entire crop as opposed to just a sample of leaves .
Even with tobacco graders it is just their eye on grading and the next grader may have a different opinion of the grade .
Believe it or not but farmers who take their tobacco to the markets in small 100 pound bales actually try and pick the better bales to place on top of the pile .

This is where tobacco nesting comes in to play . Farmers placing bad tobacco under or hiding inside of bales of tobacco .
I have heard of some putting rocks and dirt in the bales , but now days each bales has a identification number with the farmer who raised it .

If I get a chance I will post a picture of a piece of string about 6 inches long that Phillip Morris found in my bale of tobacco .One little piece of hay baling string 6 inches long or less . They sent it back to me . I thought that selling over 40,000 pounds this was pretty good . They thought other wise . I would say the string was on the floor of the truck and stuck to the bottom of a bale of tobacco .

 

[Michibacy]

I see your point BigB. On the other side as a personal grower I wonder if knowing how "good" our leaf is would be of any use. If anything it might be a good bragging tool.

 

[johnlee1933]

Grading would be useless . The reason is grading would be a entire crop as opposed to just a sample of leaves .
Even with tobacco graders it is just their eye on grading and the next grader may have a different opinion of the grade .
Believe it or not but farmers who take their tobacco to the markets in small 100 pound bales actually try and pick the better bales to place on top of the pile .

This is where tobacco nesting comes in to play . Farmers placing bad tobacco under or hiding inside of bales of tobacco .
I have heard of some putting rocks and dirt in the bales , but now days each bales has a identification number with the farmer who raised it .

If I get a chance I will post a picture of a piece of string about 6 inches long that Phillip Morris found in my bale of tobacco .One little piece of hay baling string 6 inches long or less . They sent it back to me . I thought that selling over 40,000 pounds this was pretty good . They thought other wise . I would say the string was on the floor of the truck and stuck to the bottom of a bale of tobacco .

My grand father ran a woolen blanket mill. He bought wool from local farmers. He regularly paid different farmers different prices for their wool. When my Dad asked him why he said "Some fellers put more rocks in their bales than others." He knew which ones and paid accordingly. LOL

 

[DonH]

I see your point BigB. On the other side as a personal grower I wonder if knowing how "good" our leaf is would be of any use. If anything it might be a good bragging tool.

How do you define "good"? Taste, appearance? What would be the standards? For example, lack of holes in the leaves? Kind of irrelevant except for cigar wrappers. Might also indicate too much pesticide use. If taste, what would be the standard? Who would decide? How would you pick the samples? As we know it can vary plant to plant and also on the position on the plant. Before or after kilning?

Sounds like a nightmare to me, leaving aside the cost of staffing and general logistics.

 

[Michibacy]

The more points you guys bring up the more I realize this could be a nightmare...oh well...I'll stick to grading my own tobacco...via piles.

 

[workhorse_01]

Hey my dad said in the fifties he saw people stop by the side of the road and pee on it to get more weight. He says that's why he didn't want me and my brother dipping and chewing.

Grading would be useless . The reason is grading would be a entire crop as opposed to just a sample of leaves .
Even with tobacco graders it is just their eye on grading and the next grader may have a different opinion of the grade .
Believe it or not but farmers who take their tobacco to the markets in small 100 pound bales actually try and pick the better bales to place on top of the pile .

This is where tobacco nesting comes in to play . Farmers placing bad tobacco under or hiding inside of bales of tobacco .
I have heard of some putting rocks and dirt in the bales , but now days each bales has a identification number with the farmer who raised it .

If I get a chance I will post a picture of a piece of string about 6 inches long that Phillip Morris found in my bale of tobacco .One little piece of hay baling string 6 inches long or less . They sent it back to me . I thought that selling over 40,000 pounds this was pretty good . They thought other wise . I would say the string was on the floor of the truck and stuck to the bottom of a bale of tobacco .

 

[workhorse_01]

Just ask me, Mines the best there is! LOL My dad says a true test is pounds per acre without holes in the leaf. What say y'all?

I see your point BigB. On the other side as a personal grower I wonder if knowing how "good" our leaf is would be of any use. If anything it might be a good bragging tool.

 

[BigBonner]

Hmmmn , Holes in the leaf ? From my knowledge the holes doesn't weigh much and takes up no room .
I could see the no holes in cigar leaf but cigarette tobacco , When shredded you never can find the hole and it doesn't give it a bad flavor either .


Workhorse

I have a neighbor who puts salt in the tobacco bales a handful at a time and he works for a tobacco company .
Figure 50 lbs of salt which is cheap . That's turning salt into profit .

I have never put anything in my tobacco just to make a few dishonest dollars .Here is one article in Maryland .
.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/19...9207_1_maryland-tobacco-tobacco-industry-leaf

 

[workhorse_01]

I can tell by the quality of plant you send!

Hmmmn , Holes in the leaf ? From my knowledge the holes doesn't weigh much and takes up no room .
I could see the no holes in cigar leaf but cigarette tobacco , When shredded you never can find the hole and it doesn't give it a bad flavor either .


Workhorse

I have a neighbor who puts salt in the tobacco bales a handful at a time and he works for a tobacco company .
Figure 50 lbs of salt which is cheap . That's turning salt into profit .

I have never put anything in my tobacco just to make a few dishonest dollars .Here is one article in Maryland .
.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/19...9207_1_maryland-tobacco-tobacco-industry-leaf

 

[Boboro]

If it ant got to much fuzz its good. if its got a lot of fuzz send it to Knucks.If he dont get creaped out about it . you good to go

 

[Knucklehead]

If it ant got to much fuzz its good. if its got a lot of fuzz send it to Knucks.If he dont get creaped out about it . you good to go

I thought smoke and fire purified the fuzz.