One thing we found out about covering seeds is that it is easy to get too much potting soil on the seed. You only need a thin covering on the seed. The initial germination didn't seem to be as good as in some years. However, we didn't have a big outbreak of any one disease like has happened in the past. We had some cases of soluble salts damage, pythium, stem rots but no widespread damage.
Plants seem to be turning out quite well.
The usable number seems to be good. Our summer tobacco meeting is scheduled for June 19 at 6 pm at Marshall Cobb's shop on Lowder Road. Arnold Hamm with the Flue-Cured Stabilization Corporation has said he will attend to give us the latest input from Stabilization. Hopefully it will have rained between the time I write this newsletter and the time you receive it. There is some concern about herbicides working correctly.