Alternative to Tobacco growing...

[Agee]

Reading the paper today where Virginias' Cotton farmers have started to realize a decent profit on thier cotton crop. Seems the demand for cotton has risen since major cotton producers China and Pakistan are running out of room to plant the crop.

How about Maryland farmers that have given growing Tobacco, try thier hands at Cotton?

 

[cattitude]

I read an article not too long ago about crop/farming alternatives in Calvert County. I think it was in the Recorder. I remember one guy growing geraniums to supply to stores. I'll have to look around and see if I can find something.

 

[jazz lady]

There was a similar article awhile back when the whole tobacco buy-out program began as to what they could replace it with. I think it was done by the UMD Extension Service. I'll have to try to find it when I get back tonight.

 

[vraiblonde]

Hello? I can't smoke cotton.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

Hello? I can't smoke cotton.

Tough Love.....

 

[Agee]

Hello? I can't smoke cotton.

I beleive most of Southern Marylands' Tobacco went to Europe?

 

[CMC122]

My aunt's tobacco farm was contracted to grow pumpkins

 

[Mikeinsmd]

My aunt's tobacco farm was contracted to grow pumpkins

Ewwwwwww..... how do you smoke them???

 

[CMC122]

Ewwwwwww..... how do you smoke them???

Carefully, they're a pain to roll

 

[Agee]

My aunt's tobacco farm was contracted to grow pumpkins

Have they started growing them yet? If so, will they be ready for Halloween?

 

[vraiblonde]

 

[CMC122]

Have they started growing them yet? If so, will they be ready for Halloween?

I'm sure they have. I haven't been over there since early June. Can't recall what was in the fields

Usually they get planted in June

 

[Pete]

Cotton requires a long period of hot weather to grow. While it gets hot and humid here, it does not hold a candle to GA, MS and AL in the summer. I believe TX grows more cotton than any state because of the hot arrid climate.

I remember the smell when they get ready to pick cotton from when I was growing up. Cotton is sprayed with a defoliant to cause the leaves to fall off so the picking machines can pluck the bolls from the plant without clogging with so many leaves. the defoliant smelled like really strong garlic.

 

[Agee]

Cotton requires a long period of hot weather to grow. While it gets hot and humid here, it does not hold a candle to GA, MS and AL in the summer. I believe TX grows more cotton than any state because of the hot arrid climate.

I remember the smell when they get ready to pick cotton from when I was growing up. Cotton is sprayed with a defoliant to cause the leaves to fall off so the picking machines can pluck the bolls from the plant without clogging with so many leaves. the defoliant smelled like really strong garlic.

The growing season was a point made in the article with Virginia growers. The fact that they had a cool spring, was offset by a hot summer, still produced good yields.

That was part of my reason for this post, could Southern Marylands climate support this crop.

 

[Pete]

Not consistantly I would dare say. One year it might, then next year it wouldn't. Hell of a risk to take when it cost $20K to plant.

 

[jazz lady]

The growing season was a point made in the article with Virginia growers. The fact that they had a cool spring, was offset by a hot summer, still produced good yields.

That was part of my reason for this post, could Southern Marylands climate support this crop.

Southern Maryland or just Maryland in general? Maryland has a lot of different growing zones. What works on the Eastern Shore doesn't always work in Southern Maryland and vice versa. There are also a lot of little "micro-climate" zones within the state that make growing a challenge.

Personally, I don't see cotton being an alternative crop in Maryland and especially in Southern Maryland. We no longer have many large farms that would make it worthwhile to grow IF it were feasible TO grow. The Eastern Shore is possible, but I thought something about the chemical makeup of the soil was not suitable for cotton growing.

I wish I could remember more about the story done on alternative crops suitable for Southern Maryland because I can't find it now. It may only have been published in The Enterprise. I know grapes was one crop as were specialty herbs, melons, and fruit trees.

 

[Agee]

Southern Maryland or just Maryland in general? Maryland has a lot of different growing zones. What works on the Eastern Shore doesn't always work in Southern Maryland and vice versa. There are also a lot of little "micro-climate" zones within the state that make growing a challenge.

Personally, I don't see cotton being an alternative crop in Maryland and especially in Southern Maryland. We no longer have many large farms that would make it worthwhile to grow IF it were feasible TO grow. The Eastern Shore is possible, but I thought something about the chemical makeup of the soil was not suitable for cotton growing.

I wish I could remember more about the story done on alternative crops suitable for Southern Maryland because I can't find it now. It may only have been published in The Enterprise. I know grapes was one crop as were specialty herbs, melons, and fruit trees.

You are amazing...

 

[jazz lady]

Here's one article on it from the agricultural department of the UMD:

Shifting from a "one-crop/tobacco" economy to an "alternative crops" economy has favored the creation and implementation of diversifying farm enterprises for southern Maryland growers. The shifts in population indicate that ethnic produce could be a source of revenues for these and perhaps other growers. A two-year research project has been established to study the production of a variety of ethnic vegetables and herbs in southern Maryland; develop a production handbook to be used by growers there, and to introduce ethnic and specialty produce to Maryland consumers through nutritional education sessions.
Preliminary research findings indicate that ethnic and specialty produce respond positively to Maryland weather/soil conditions and could be locally grown to supply local markets. Maryland direct marketing and wholesaling outlets have expressed the desire to order the produce, and consumers respond favorably to the new taste as the produce is introduced to the public at large.

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/SmallFarmInstitute/index.cfm?Parent=168&ID=265

 

[jazz lady]

You are amazing...

Hey, it's something I'm interested in and have researched before. I actually did a research paper on it in college, so does fit.

 

[Agee]

Hey, it's something I'm interested in and have researched before. I actually did a research paper on it in college, so does fit.

I think it's great! Huge potential. Want to open a wineary