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SW “Ohia” | Blusteryknollfarm,
Yep, there is a bit of tobacco still grown in Wisconsin. Before the ‘05 buyout it was mainly Wisconsin Variety. Now they grow some Burley like we do here as well.
The big, tall barns with gaps in the siding are hanging barns. Pretty much every farm has one/had one. Around Labor Day weekend the tobacco will be “chopped” and “housed” by hanging it from the big wood tier systems inside. You may have seen a few barns with their ventilation shutters hanging open too. Airflow is critical in the curing process.
American-grown tobacco leaf, which is selling for $1.70-$2.20 a pound, can’t compete with African and South American imports at $0.50 a pound. US price is same it has been since the 1980’s, yield is same, labor needs are same (massive), and every input has gone up since. Direct production contracts with the buying companies drove a lot of producers out too. Dairy has disappeared at a similar rate.
Glad to hear you liked the ferry. Augusta is a really neat little town. So is Ripley.
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Things to do in SW Ohio
