Burley Grade Information for New Growers

Danny R. Peek and T. David Reed

Created October 18, 2005

Last Updated October 24, 2005

The following information has been complied as a resource for new burley tobacco producers in
the piedmont of Virginia. The goal is to introduce growers to the characteristic colors of burley
tobacco and to educate on proper striping by stalk position. This webpage is under development
and will continue to be updated in the coming weeks. We will be adding additional photographs
depicting striping by stalk position and more information of the guideline for farm grading.

If you have questions or comments contact David Reed at 434-292-5331 or email threed@vt.edu.

The purpose of this site is to provide information helpful to growers in the grading of burley
tobacco. Grading burley tobacco is the correct identification and separation of leaves by stalk
positions. The different stalk positions of a tobacco plant are determined by maturity, body, and
color. Most crops of burley tobacco will have four distinct stalk positions which are flyings (X),
cutters (C), leaf (B), and tips (T).

The flyings group (X) consists of the oldest, most mature leaves grown at the bottom of the stalk.
These leaves are very thin to tissuey bodied and buff to tan in color. Flyings generally show a
certain degree of injury from age and/or disease. Generally, there will only be a few leaves on
the stalk that go into this group.

The cutters or lugs (C) group consists of the next most mature leaves that grow above the flyings.
These leaves are thin to medium bodied and buff to tan in color. Cured leaves have a tendency
to roll, hiding the midrib. Cutters are generally the widest, longest leaves on a stalk and typically
have a rounded tip. Cutters will generally consist of several leaves that go about half way up the
stalk.

The leaf (B) group consists of long, narrow leaves that are less mature and grow above the
cutters. These leaves are medium to heavy bodied and are tan to red in color. They usually fold
at the midrib, which hides the face of the leaf and exposes the midrib. They can usually be
distinguished from the cutters group by being darker in color, heavier bodied, and have pointy
tips.

The tips (T) group consists of leaves grown at the top of the plant. These leaves are medium to
heavy bodied and are very similar to leaf group. Tips are usually shorter than the leaf group
(depending on topping practices), and slightly darker in color with a little more body. Typically
only 2 to 4 leaves at the top of the stalk will fit into this group.
Properly separating burley tobacco into these stalk position groups is desirable from a buyer’s
standpoint.
 Tips (T)

Leaf (B)

Cutters (C)

Flyings (X)

4 8 12 16 20 in.
Figure 1. Typical burley tobacco can be graded into four distinct stalk positions. Beginning at
the bottom of the stalks with the flyings (X), followed by cutters (C), leaf (B), and tips at the top
of the stalk. Leaves from each stalk position have characteristic size, shape, and color that
correspond to their relative age and maturity.
 Buff Colored Flylings

Figure 2. Hand of fair quality (4th quality) flyings or X-grade. Color is described as “buff” or L.
Note the relatively high degree of injury that is characteristic of leaves grown at the bottom of
stalk and the oldest, ripest leaves on the stalk. Age spots or disease spots are common on
flyings.
 Lower Quality
Higher Quality Tan Color

Lower Quality Buff Color Higher Quality

Figure 3. Hands of buff (L) colored flyings on the bottom and tan (F) color flyings above. L-
color leaves are lighter in both color and body than F-color leaves.
Figure 4. Comparison of flyings (X) with cutter leaves. Flyings are characterized by the presence of
the increased injury, disease spots, and thinner body associated with leaves grown close to the
ground.
 Tan Color

Buff Color

Figure 5. Color comparison of fine (2nd) quality cutter leaves. Buff or L color is on the bottom and tan (F) is on the top. F-
colored cutters may be slightly heavier bodied than L.
 Note pinkish color

Figure 6. Mixed or M-colored cutters added to the previous photograph of L and F-colored cutters. M-colored
leaves are characterized by the presence of a distinctly different color from the typical leaf color (L or F). This
is often associated with pink or pinkish areas of very thin bodied cutter leaves, usually present in the shoulders
of the leaf.
Figure 7. The range in coloration of clear colored leaf (B) grade leaves. Tan or F is on the top, tannish-red or FR is the
middle, and red (R) on the bottom. Leaf body increases with dark coloration.
Figure 8. Range in coloration of tip leaves (T-grade). Tan (F) is on the bottom, tannish-red (FR)
above, red (R) third from the bottom, and dark red (D) at the top. Leaf body increases with
darker coloration.
Figure 9. Variegated or K-colored B-grade leaves with 20 percent or more of the leaf surface being yellow, grayish, mottled, or
bleached and does not blend with normal leaf color. Yellow areas are often associated with leaves that dried too rapidly (flash
cured) and thus did not cure with proper color set.
Figure 10. An example of GR or green-red colored leaves that can occur with B or T-grade leaves. Such leaves are
usually associated with bruising than can occur if leaves are stepped on during harvest or housing and with sun scalded
tobacco. Although not common, this color can occur if freezing temperatures occur before color set of the leaves is
complete.
Figure 11. Mixed graded tobacco is characterized by the presence of leaves from three different leaf grade groups. Note
the mixing of X-grade leaves (lighter color and body, small leaf size, and disease spots) in the above bundle of primarily B-
grade tobacco.
Figure 12. Tobacco not meeting the minimum standards of other grades are classified as nondescript (N). The tobacco shown in
the photograph has injury greater than 60 percent.