Once tobacco gets in full bloom, its time to start topping and oiling.  The bloom needs to be cut or as we do it, snapped by hand from the top of the plant.  As I have said before tobacco is a labor intensive crop.  Each plant has to be snapped at the bloom in order to keep the plant growing plus oil sprayed.........so no suckers form and strip the plant of its growth and nutrients.

 A patch of dark tobacco at Lowe Farms in full bloom.

Our workers snapping/cutting the tops out of the tobacco and oiling the plant for suckers.  Notice they carry about 30 to 50 pounds on their back with a backpack sprayer.  Backpack sprayers make it more efficient for us to cover more ground than the traditional large sprayer we have used in the past.  We can cover more ground and each worker can work at their own pace.  We save on fuel with the manual process as well.

 Leonel and Oscar oiling dark tobacco

Most days are extremely hot and the sun can definitely be a nuisance.  Work like this can separate the boys from the men in the first 30 minutes. Every plant must be touched.........bloom broke, any suckers removed and the whole thing oiled from top to bottom.  These are the days where I work from the ATV and manage.  The girls and I ride back and forth to the field with water and snacks.