Structural Characteristics of Flue-Cured Tobacco Farms and Prospects for Harvest Mechanization

Verner N. Grise, Owen K. Shugars, William D. Givan and Frederic L. Hoff

No 307522, Agricultural Economic Reports from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: By 1978, mechanical harvesters will be used to harvest an estimated 23-36 percent of the flue-cured tobacco acreage in the study area, which produces three-fourths of all U.S. flue-cured tobacco. Farmers will use bulk barns to cure an expected 65-80 percent of it. Comparison figures of 1972 are 1 and 8 percent, respectively. If these changes occur, labor needed during the harvest will fall as much as 50 percent between 1972 and 1978. In 1972, flue-cured tobacco management units averaged 9.5 acres in the study area, or about three times the size of the average flue-cured tobacco allotment. Close to 60 percent of these units use some harvest system that differs from the more traditional methods: • 8 percent — bulk barns • 47 percent — machines to tie tobacco leaves on sticks • 30 percent — priming aids • 20 percent — traditional methods

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Labor and Human Capital; Production Economics; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 54
Date: 1975-01
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uerser:307522

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.307522

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