LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA (RFD News) — The next phase of tobacco planting is underway across North Carolina, with farmers working long hours to get plants in the ground.
At N&N Farms, fourth-generation farmer Travis Nelms is moving from greenhouse to field, transplanting tobacco into rows despite ongoing dry conditions.
Nelms says planting season is one of his favorite times of year: “Planting time is a good time, and it’s the start of everything. I love to see it go in the field. When it goes in the field, things are going good.”
Even with drought concerns, the work continues. Nelms plans to plant about 400 acres this season, averaging roughly 40 to 45 acres a day. While the crop thrives on predictably dry weather, yields and crop quality can suffer dramatically if producers are unable to get a good gauge on unpredictable hot and dry weather patterns.
North Carolina leads the nation in tobacco production and is responsible for about 60 percent of the U.S. crop.
Farm debt is climbing to record levels at ag banks, reflecting pressure on crop producers’ finances even as livestock and land values lend stability to the sector.
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