How do I cure tobacco leaf properly for good grade and price?

Curing decides tobacco grade and price more than almost anything else. For flue cured Virginia, the leaf is cured in a barn with controlled heat in stages, first yellowing the leaf at lower temperature and humidity, then fixing the colour and finally drying the leaf and stem, and getting the temperature and timing right at each stage gives the bright lemon to orange colour that earns top grades. Harvest leaves at the correct ripeness from the bottom up, and load the barn uniformly. Dark, patchy or green cured leaf comes from harvesting unripe leaf, uneven barn temperature or poor air flow. Each tobacco type has its own curing method. Follow the Tobacco Board and Central Tobacco Research Institute guidance and your KVK for correct barn management.