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Moveable Tobacco Curing Frames, George A. Duncan, Larry D. Swetnam, Linus R. Walton

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Moveable (or portable) curing frames offer the tobacco grower another option for successfully reducing labor and costs for producing air-cured tobacco. Reducing labor and costs is essential to continuing profitable tobacco production.

Two designs that use the cantilever-beam concept for supporting two rails of stick tobacco on a central beam are shown and explained in this publication. Further details of construction and covering are shown in the following drawings.

Selecting An Air-Cure Tobacco Housing And Curing Facility, George A. Duncan, Larry D. Swetnam

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Once or twice in a lifetime the average tobacco producer faces the decision of what tobacco housing and curing facility he needs to build. For some, this may be to replace a barn that has burned or blown down. For others, the need may arise from an expansion of production by farm acquisition or lease-in of extra poundage.

In all cases, it is important to build the most suitable facility for present and projected production methods. With labor becoming more costly and scarce, labor-saving features are a must Rising material and construction costs continue to increase the initial investment costs …

Post-Tier Rail And Typar® Or Metal-Covered Tobacco Field Curing Structures, George A. Duncan

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Tobacco producers are rapidly adopting field curing structures with several variations in construction materials and methods. They are looking to lower costs and increase efficiency by installing structures that require less maintenance and last longer.

Two recently designed structures appear to provide more permanent options for producers who dislike the tedious tasks of covering and securing the plastic over the tobacco during the curing season. Both structures use two-rail-wide, two-post wooden construction, but they differ in their roof coverings. One uses Typar®, and the other uses metal.

High-Tensile Wire Or Cable Tobacco Field Curing Structure, George A. Duncan

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

Producers are rapidly adopting field curing structures, and several variations in construction methods and materials exist to achieve low cost or low maintenance and long life. One of the construction methods, pioneered by a producer and now being used by others in the state, uses high-tensile wire strands or cable to support the tobacco sticks.

Two-Tier Partially Enclosed Air-Cure Tobacco Barn, George A. Duncan

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

With the rising costs, scarcity of materials, and greater construction requirements for regular tobacco barns, the concept of a lower cost but functionally sound tobacco curing facility with partial or no sidewall closure has been developed into a blueprint plan shown in Figure 1. The plan can be built and used now with partial sidewalls and enclosed more completely later if desired.

One-Tier Plastic-Covered Tobacco Curing Structure—Tier Rail Design, George A. Duncan

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

A tobacco grower occasionally has insufficient barn space to house his crop. This problem is especially severe when a barn is damaged or destroyed and cannot be repaired or replaced before harvest. Also, those leasing or having extra poundage may need short-term, low-cost housing.

Kentucky weather conditions are suited for curing in conventional barns as well as in other special structures with adequate covering and crop protection.