MURRAY, KY(wkms) -
Kentucky burley farmers who endured a drought-plagued season last fall are hoping to be rewarded as the new season gets under way. Tobacco experts are upbeat about burley prices rebounding this fall, thanks in part to favorable curing conditions. Ideally, the post-harvest curing process changes green burley tobacco leaves to a dark reddish-brown tint desired by cigarette manufacturers. University of Kentucky agricultural economist Will Snell predicts U.S. burley prices will bounce back to the $1.70-per-pound range. He says prices for the 2010 crop averaged about $1.50 per pound, though some drought-stressed crop fetched less than $1 a pound. Kentucky leads the nation in burley production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the state is forecast to produce 128 million pounds 2011, 9 percent less than a year ago.
