Rampant disease threatens Georgia tobacco crop

ALBANY - Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is seeking a disaster declaration to help Georgia tobacco farmers who may have lost 30 to 40 percent of their crop because of drought and a rampant plant disease. <br> <br> The disease, tomato spotted wilt virus, has also infected tobacco plants in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, but Georgia&#39;s outbreak is the worst. <br> <br> Irvin has requested an assessment of the Georgia crop to determine if some growers could qualify for federal disaster assistance. <br> <br> After completing a two-day tour of south Georgia&#39;s flue-cured belt, Irvin said he had run into a lot of farmers who have had to plow up their whole field. <br> <br> He said the Georgia crop ranges from ``absolutely fabulous&#39;&#39; to ``some that&#39;s mighty poor.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Seventy-six percent of the crop ranges from fair to very poor, according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Only 24 percent is considered good to excellent. <br> <br> Michael Moore, a University of Georgia tobacco specialist, estimates the disease has infected 30 to 35 percent of the state&#39;s tobacco plants. <br> <br> The virus is spread by tiny insects known as thrips. They become infected by feeding on infected plants -- even weeds around fields. Then they pass it on to tobacco plants when they scrape the leaves to feed on the juices. The plants shrivel and die. There is no cure. <br> <br> Tomato spotted wilt also attacks other important Southern crops, such as cotton, peanuts and tomatoes.