[Lee'sGhost]

Hey, CD, as far as the farming side of the "tobacco" issue is concerned, the farmers worst enemy is the manufacturers. More and more they go to cheap foreign tobacco -- patting the Amer. farmer on the back with one had saying, "we're you're friends" while grabbing South Amer. and Far East leaf as fast as they can with the other. Did you notice that they've all but done away with auctions? Another way to force growers to confirm to their whims. It's been awhile, but I also believe that manufacturers, as part of the coop agreement, in some way prohibited tobacco farmers from pursuing alternative crops.

[Constitution Day]

LG,

You're absolutely correct there.
The auction system is just about gone.

I work in Wilson, which used to be known as the "World's Largest Tobacco Market"
Well, I think that last year alone, two or three warehouses here shut down for good.

I think there are probably two or three in town still planning to auction this year.
The farmers are choosing to go that route, as I understand it.

Not sure about the coop agreement.
The farmer who rents my grandmother's farm planted nothing but tobacco last year.
This year it's soybeans & I think cotton.