9/10/2002, 11:00 a.m. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TOBACCO MANAGEMENT ADVISORY Producers Urged to Immediately Close Barn Doors And Vents to Protect Leaf From Dry, Hot Conditions LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2002) Because of extremely hot, dry weather, Kentucky tobacco producers are urged to take immediate steps to protect burley tobacco curing in barns. This is for producers across the state, not just in the central part of Kentucky, said Tom Priddy, agricultural meteorologist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Temperatures in the 90s, moderate winds and low humidity are causing rapid curing rates. This rapid curing may be too high for tobacco hanging in barns and producers should take precautions to minimize excessive moisture loss. The potential for damage is great, said Gary Palmer, Extension tobacco specialist in the UK College of Agriculture. Some producers have already lost a significant amount of their leaf due to the drought, and stand to lose even more due to this curing situation. Palmer said producers should close barn doors and vents starting today and closely monitor weather conditions for the next few days. Cooler temperatures later in the week may help decrease evaporative losses until this weekend when the possibility of showers and higher humidity increases. He said the threat of dry conditions to field cured tobacco is somewhat less, but producers should still be mindful of the possible effects of the hot, dry weather. Sources: Gary Palmer, 859-257-8667 Tom Priddy, 859-257-8803, ext. 245