VA_TB144 GEORGIA-FLORIDA FLUE-CURED TOBACCO, TYPE 14 SEASON REPORT, 2000 CROP OCTOBER 23, 2000 Demand was good for the 2000 crop of Georgia-Florida flue- cured tobacco, as indicated by a sharp decline in loan receipts. Buyers were somewhat selective at the beginning of the season, but were actively purchasing upper stalk tobacco at the end, with a majority of the tobacco bringing a practical top bid of $188 per hundred. Composition of marketings was more desirable than last year, especially from a maturity standpoint. Total volume and value of the crop were above 1999 levels. Although some areas experienced an early drought, nearly all of the effective quota was sold at auction. Gross sales and averages by states and type follow: 2000 CROP* 1999 CROP State/Type Pounds Average Pounds Average Florida 12,799,426 $174.88 15,635,191 $172.78 Georgia 76,084,589 $174.85 71,417,182 $169.28 Total Type 14 88,884,015 $174.86 87,052,373 $169.91 * Subject to revision. The overall average of $174.86 per hundred was up $4.95 from last season. The daily high of $186.57 occurred on September 11, of the seventh week. Week number eight had the highest weekly average of $185.85. Resales for the season totaled 8,883,859 pounds or 10.0 percent of gross sales, compared with 9,284,552 pounds or 10.7 percent last year. Nonauction sales for the 2000 crop are not yet finalized, but nearly one million pounds of Type 14 tobacco have been sold directly to companies or dealers. Higher bid averages were recorded for around 41 percent of the grades this season, while 48 percent were lower, and 11 percent held steady. Most gains came from leaf and smoking leaf offerings, which have higher support prices. Increases for the heavy volume upper stalk grades were generally $1 to $4, and they sold from $184 to $188 per hundred. Losses were mostly $4 to $6, and centered mainly on lugs and primings. A majority of the lower stalk marketings averaged between $147 and $159 per hundred. Bid averages ranged from a high of $188 for several leaf and smoking leaf grades, to a low of $84 for no-grade (No-G) offerings. This year's maturity was better, as mature to mellow tobacco rose 24 percentage points to make up almost three-fourths of all auctions. Unripe and immature tobacco combined, dropped 19 points to 21 percent. Improvements were also noted in quality, with fair tobacco dominating sales at 69 percent - up 8 points, followed by good at 14 - up 4, low 12 - down 7, and poor quality 1 percent - down 2 points. Only minor changes were reported in stalk positions. Group percentages were; leaf (B) 54; smoking leaf (H) 6; cutters (C) 5; lugs (X) 14; primings (P) 17; and nondescript (N) 4 percent. The primary color symbols utilized this season were "F" and "K" for ripe tobacco, and "KM" for unripe sales. The Flue-Cured Stabilization Corporation collected 5,499,357 pounds or 6.9 percent of net sales this season, compared with 11,114,000 pounds or 14.3 percent last year. The 2000 auction season began August 1, and ended October 19, for a total of 45 sales days - two more than last year. Type 14 markets operated this season with five sets of buyers. Auction bid averages per hundred pounds on several U. S. Grades and comparisons to the previous year follow: U.S. Auction Change From Grade Bid Previous Year ----- -------- ------------- B4F $188 Up $1 B3K $188 Unchanged B4K $187 Up $ 1 B5K $186 Up $4 B4KM $184 Up $3 H4F $188 Unchanged H4K $188 Unchanged C4F $175 Up $1 X4F $159 Down $4 X4KM $149 Down $6 P4L $149 Down $4 P4F $147 Down $5 McCarty 12:30e bcl Questions? Contact: USDA AMS TOBACCO MARKET NEWS 1306 Annapolis Drive Market News Web Page Raleigh, NC 27608 http://www.ams.usda.gov/marketnews.htm (919) 856-4550