WIS473    TOBACCO
          02/26/1990  09:22 AM  D1  203 Lines


Agriculture Science/Production Management

Tobacco (10-20 days)

This unit deals with the science of tobacco production.  The topics include
career opportunities, employment information, cultural practices, pest and
weed control, harvesting, and the marketing of Wisconsin's tobacco crop.


Objectives

To acquaint students with employment information and career opportunities in
the tobacco production industry

To develop student understanding of the cultural practices necessary for a
successful crop

To increase student awareness of the labor, machinery, and building
requirements of the tobacco crop

To give students opportunities to explore marketing channels and procedures for
tobacco crops

To acquaint students with the uses of tobacco in both foreign and domestic
channels


Competencies

At the conclusion of this unit, students will be able to

explain current employment information such as job descriptions,
job availability, personal and educational requirements, working conditions,
opportunities for advancement, and other factors relative to potential
employment in the tobacco industry and relate it to their personal needs
and aspirations;

identify key soil and climatic variables affecting tobacco production in
Wisconsin;

describe equipment and building requirements for tobacco production;

choose an appropriate tobacco variety for a given situation;

describe procedures used to start tobacco plants in a bed;

describe methods used to prepare a tobacco field for planting;

outline recommended methods for transplanting tobacco plants from the bed
to the field;

develop a management plan to control disease, weeds, and insects in the
tobacco field;

identify and explain the steps involved in harvesting tobacco;


understand tobacco markets, market price trends, and marketing procedures for
tobacco;

discuss the economics of tobacco production;

and list state and federal laws and regulations concerning tobacco production.


Subject Matter  (Basic skills integration areas are shown in brackets
following title.)

Careers
    - Current and future employment needs
    - Job descriptions
    - Training requirements
    - Working conditions
    - Opportunities for advancement
    - Other factors

Introduction   [Mathematics, Science, Social Studies]
    - History
    - Efficiency factors
    - Climate and soil requirements
    - Labor, machinery, and building requirements
    - Cost efficiency
    - Fitting the tobacco enterprise into a farming program
    - Tobacco issues
         Health concerns
         Social concerns

Choosing a variety of tobacco
    - Market factors
    - Soil and climate conditions

Starting plants in a bed   [Science]
    - Building the bed
    - Soil preparation
    - Chemicals for weeds and disease control
    - Seeding the bed
    - Watering, temperature control, and insect and disease control
    - Fertilizing

Cultural practices   [Science]
    - Tillage
    - Fertilizing and manuring
    - Maintaining correct pH
    - Transplanting

Controlling insects, weeds, and disease   [Science]
    - Biological control
    - Chemical control
    - Mechanical control

Harvesting
    - Topping
    - Suckering
    - Cutting

    - Wilting
    - Piling
    - Spearing (stringing)
    - Hanging in the shed
    - Curing
    - Stripping
    - Storing on the farm

Marketing   [Science]
    - Market location
    - Market timing
    - Tobacco uses
    - Domestic and foreign markets

Economics of tobacco   [Mathematics, Social Studies]
    - Current market prices and price trends
    - Production costs
         Labor
         Machinery costs
         Supplies
         Manure
         Land rent
         Miscellaneous expenses

Acreage allotment
    - Price support program
    - State and federal laws
    - Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service


Motivational Activities

Take field trips to tobacco-producing farms and tobacco warehouses

Invite a tobacco marketing specialist to give a class presentation.

Arrange for students to attend a tobacco exposition.


Learning Activities

Participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience program.

Research the marketing channels that tobacco goes through and give a report
on it.

Study grade, pricing, and marketing reports and describe your findings.


Instructional Materials

Textbooks and References

Approved Practices in Crop Production by Elwood A. Brickbauer and
  William P. Mortenson.  2nd ed.  Danville, IL:  Interstate, 1978.

Crop Production:  Principles and Practices by Stephen R. Chapman and

  Lark P. Carter.  San Francisco:  W.H. Freeman, 1976.

Crop Production by Richard J. Delorit and Louis Greub.  5th ed.
  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice Hall, 1984.

Plant Science by Jules Janick et al.  San Francisco:  W.H. Freeman, 1981.


Computer Software

The following is available from Hobar Publications.

Substitute Teacher - Volume V.  Apple.


Laboratory Resources

Tobacco planter owner's manuals.


Films, Videotapes, and Slides

The following is available from Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc.

Leaf.  12765 (16mm film, color, 14 minutes).


Equipment and Facilities

Tobacco harvesting equipment
Tobacco planters
Tobacco seed