Crop Damage
Emil Nuekamm displays his hail damaged crop, Aylmer, 1971
St. Thomas Times-Journal fonds, C8 Sh2 B2 F5 23
WEATHER DAMAGE
Hail:
- Causes physical damage to leaves of the tobacco plant, causing browning and tears in leaves.
- Severe damage can lead to the death of the plant.
Drought:
- Farmers without an irrigation system at their disposal may find themselves with withering plants and dry soil which may easily erode.
Sandstorm:
- Dry soil and windy conditions can cause sandstorms.
- Plants may suffer some damage and soil erosion around the base of plants may lead to the death of plants.
Flooding:
- Too much water can drown plants and washes away the loose topsoil.
PESTS & DISEASE
Cut worms:
- Attack newly transplanted tobacco plants, severing the plant from its root system at ground level.
- Combatted with poisoned bait and later, pesticides.
Wireworm:
- Attack the root and stem of tobacco plants, moving from plant to plant causing much damage in a short time
- Combatted with insecticides added to the transplant water.
Seed maggot:
- Attack the root and stem of tobacco plants
- Combatted with insecticides added to the transplant water.
Nematode infestation:
- Microscopic worm-like parasites which attack the root of newly transplanted tobacco plants
- Combatted by treating the soil with chemicals before the seedlings are transplanted.
Blue mould:
- The downy mildew of tobacco, caused by the fungus Peronospora tabacina Adam
- Controlled with precise rate and timing of fungicide application in the seedbed and in the field.
Louie Arvai's Tobacco field under water.
West Lorne Sun and Rodney Mercury (1975)
Rm 105 C9 Sh6 B2 F1975 88
Tobacco in
Elgin County :
Production :
- Preparation
- Transplanting
- In The Field
- Harvest
- Into the Kiln
- Flue-Curing
- Baling
- Crop Damage
- The Workers