TN tobacco crops have banner year

"It's almost like a jungle when tobacco is this big," said Jake Sartain, owner of Sunny Slope Farms in Talbott, while walking through his 14 acre tobacco crop.

Sartain planted his first tobacco crop in 1947 at the age of 13. He believes this year's crop is the healthiest.

"It looked like it was going to be a bumper crop year--and it turned out to be," said Sartain.

Well balanced rainfall created better quantity and quality in most East Tennessee tobacco fields. However, any more rain could have been disastrous on the plants.

"An overabundance of rain could stunt it's growth and it could never grow out of it," he said.

On the downside, rainfall cut into the harvest process which is underway. This year, stalks are bigger and harder to cut. The leaves are more brittle and break easily.

Sartain expects to sell 2,500 pounds of tobacco. The average price for a pound is $1.60-1.70. Sartain believes the abundance of good crops shouldn't stunt farmers paychecks too much.

"Rumor has it that it will be two or three cents lower," said Sartain.

Jake Sartain's best crop will also serve as his last. The 75 y.o. is retiring from the farming industry while he is on top.

"I think it's a perfect crop to end on," said Sartain.