The Weekend in Review (Pics)

B

BillyinStoughton

Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Topped some tobacco...

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=DSC01473.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

Went to Utica Fest to check out the Milwaukee made barley pop and tractor pulls...

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=DSC01485.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

Checked out my buddies new blower mini-rod (These guys are certified nuts!)...

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=DSC01477.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=DSC01480.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

And even the pedal tractor pullers were running good equipment...

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=DSC01482.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

A good weekend had by all!

 

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

BillyinStoughton,

Looks like you had fun!

What is "topping tobacco"? Is that something that makes the plant develop more leaves?

 

OP

OP

B

BillyinStoughton

Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

It doesn't help them develop more leaves, but it helps fill out the leaves that are already there.

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

This might be a really stupid question but what is Barley pop?

Just a nickname for beer or is some sort of soda?

Sorry if I sound stupid but just curious?

Thanks

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Nice to see the pictures, I have some tobacco topped 2 weeks and topped more today. Will start cutting next monday. The guys around here pull Trucks or V twin lawn mowers. Looks like "Chicken on a Chain" is a lot o toy.

 

Vito

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Beer.

Vito

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Thought so. Just didn't know if it was something that I had never had but ought to try

Thanks

 

L

Larry Ballinger

New User

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Do you have a machine there in the picture to top the tobacco ? I have helped cousins in Kentucky top tobacco ,it's one plant at a time by hand.

 

S

ShadetreeRet

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Billy, what type tobacco is that? I grew up in North Carolina and we grew tobacco that was used mostly for cigarettes. Yours looks a little different. If I may expand on your comment, topping tobacco actually stops it from developing more leaves, which as you stated, allows all the nutrients to be fed to the existing leaves.

 

J

JDseller

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

It is kind of like cutting a bull. It neuters the plant. The seeds are in the flower that will develop at the top if not topped. It makes the plant put the growth into the leaves left. Not grow more to make a seed flower.

 

H

huntingreen2day

Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

Nice looking crop of tobacco but the rows are too long for me to hoe and the shade is too far away.

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Aug 6, 2012

• #1

I think it is a device to ensure full employment in Hospital over time.

 

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Billy or anybody,

Can anyone post a pic of the machine that tops tobacco?

 

OP

OP

B

BillyinStoughton

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

That's correct, it will stop developing more leaves and it also won't pump all the nutrients to that pretty flower on top. In the end it helps the existing leaves fill out. Every additional pound of weight means more $$$.

It's all chewing tobacco and cigar wrapper up here. You's guys got the high end smoke tobacco down that-a-way.

 

OP

OP

B

BillyinStoughton

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Here is a photo of the machines that top tobacco. Typically it's a bunch of big (and not so bright) Norwegians that enjoy the occasional Pabst Blue Ribbon.

<a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k58/BillyinStoughton/?action=view&amp;current=img_15882.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

 

K

Kippster

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

What breed of tobacco were yall growing for cigs? Just curious. I grow just about everything else I use an wanted to give the tobacco growing a try. Thanks. Kippster

 

B

Bill Radford

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Now that blows my mind... 'baccer in Wisconsin.
Looks like eastern NC in the picture.Thought all you guys did was brew beer, raise milk cows and build Harley Davidsons.
COOL

 

SweetFeet

Well-known Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Seriously? You mean it is literally done by hand? I figured there was some type of machine/cutter.

Husband would probably help for barley pop. LOL.

 

J

JMS/.MN

Well-known Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Tobacco was grown in central MN for many years- cigar tobacco. Local town had a dealer, but most was grown near a couple other towns. Stearns County still had tobacco allotments in the early 70s. Still see drying sheds on many farms- most have the slats covered with steel now. Keeps the snow out!

 

S

ShadetreeRet

Well-known Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Kippster, I really can't remember the name of the variety that Dad grew. While the methods of growing it remain about the same, the methods of harvesting and marketing it have changed drastically. The type we grew had to be harvested in stages of two to four leaves per stalk at a time, which was an ongoing process every week for about six weeks. If you are seriously interested in growing it, your local Ag. Extension office should be able to advise you as to varieties. To each his own, but personally, I don't ever want to set foot in a tobacco field again!

 

J

JWalker

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

I am located in what was once the 7th largest flue cured tobacco growing county in the USA. Most of the flue cured tobacco is used in making cigarettes. I have never personally grown tobacco, but my parent owned an allotment. We usually had some planted on the farm that was raised by tennets.
We have leased some land this year for some to be grown on for the rotation. On this farm the tobacco was topped the first week of June. They knocked of the sand lugs the third week of June and started cropping the first week of July. They started "stripping" last week and are waiting on barns and dry weather to finish stripping this farm. The fellas that are farming this have 225 acers total.

 

OP

OP

B

BillyinStoughton

Member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

Yup...it's ALL done by hand. To put that photo in context...I'm the 6'3" dude on the left. The cat on the right played left tackle for Wisconsin back in the late 90's. He's one big boy from Muscoda.