Tobacco Barn Thermometer

Quick Answer: The Tobacco Barn Thermometer is a thermometer made for tobacco curing barns, where the temperature of the air around the hanging leaves must be followed and raised in stages over several days. A tobacco barn thermometer lets the curer read conditions inside the barn while disturbing them as little as possible.

Temperature Control in Flue-Curing

In flue-cured tobacco, harvested leaves hang in a closed barn heated through flues from a furnace. The cure moves through recognised stages: yellowing, when the leaf changes colour at moderate warmth and high humidity; leaf drying, when temperature is raised and ventilation increased to fix the colour; and stem or midrib drying at the highest temperatures. The curer changes firing and ventilation according to the readings, so a thermometer that can be trusted and read easily is central to the job.

Barn thermometers are generally designed to be read from outside or through an observation window or hatch, because opening the barn lets heat and humidity escape at the wrong moment. Many curers pair a dry-bulb thermometer with a wet-bulb one to judge humidity, which is the same principle as a wet and dry bulb hygrometer. The construction and range of this listing are not given in the title.

Position matters. Readings are usually taken at the level of the leaves being cured and away from the flue pipes, whose radiant heat would give a falsely high figure. Record each reading with its time, so the cure schedule can be reviewed after the barn is unloaded.

Specifications

Applications

• Guiding firing and ventilation changes during flue-curing
• Keeping cure records for each barn load
• Agricultural extension demonstrations of curing schedules
• Other crop-drying barns and kilns where temperature is raised in stages

Care & Handling

• Mount the tobacco barn thermometer securely, where it cannot fall onto the leaves or be knocked by sticks during loading.
• Keep the viewing window or hatch clean so the scale stays readable.
• Remove and clean it between cures to clear dust and tarry deposits.
• Compare it with a laboratory thermometer before the curing season starts.

Why Choose LabEquip

Tobacco growers, curing-barn operators and agricultural research stations buy barn thermometers ahead of each curing season. LabEquip lists this model in General Lab Products; describe the barn layout and reading distance through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can the barn not simply be opened to check the temperature?

Opening the door releases heat and humidity and lets in outside air, which upsets the cure, especially during yellowing. A thermometer read from outside avoids that.

Where in the barn should the thermometer be placed?

At the level of the leaves being cured, where the air represents the load, and away from the flue pipes and walls, whose heat would distort the reading.

Why use a wet-bulb thermometer as well?

Humidity controls how fast leaves lose moisture. The difference between the dry-bulb and wet-bulb readings shows how humid the barn air is, which tells the curer when to open the ventilators.

How often should readings be taken?

At regular intervals throughout the cure, day and night, with more frequent checks while the curer is moving from one stage to the next.

Can this thermometer be used in other drying barns?

Yes, for crops or products dried in stages, provided its range covers the temperatures involved.

How should the thermometer be checked before the season?

Place it with a laboratory thermometer in a water bath at a temperature within its range and compare the readings. Replace or correct any instrument that reads well away from the reference.

Last Updated: September 2026