Tobacco Season 2006: Plenty of Leaf, Too Few Workers, Rain at Harvest time

Source from:  By WENDY MITCHELL Staff Writer Monday, November 13, 2006 11/16/2006

Farmers are busy taking advantage of the sunshine as the first bales of tobacco change hands at area tobacco warehouses. A bumper crop with a labor shortage this season may mean rethinking how much tobacco farmers may plant next year, said some farmers and officials. Farmers in London tobacco markets are waiting in line to get into the sales while some in the Maysville area are just beginning to get their crops stripped, officials said. "Late crops and rain at inopportune times really hurt some farmers," said Scott Althauser, vice president of leaf at Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association in Lexington. What also hurt was a lack of help at harvest time, said David Appelman, Bracken County Cooperative Extension agent. "This year, we saw a small increase in production in the fields, partly due to the incentive prices from the tobacco companies," said Appelman. "The labor problem, if it is not resolved soon, may force farmers to change how much they produce." In the past few years, tobacco farmers had been able to rely on a seemingly plentiful supply of migratory workers to cut, house and strip their crops. "This year, it all changed. The work force was just not out there," said Appelman. Finding workers with proper documentation to work in the U.S. has been hard, and local residents who also work tobacco were in high demand, said Appelman. "Many crops went late into the harvest season for lack of workers and cold weather damaged some," said Appelman. "I'm afraid if the labor situation continues the way it has we may see a drastic drop in production next year." Farmers are in a contract situation with the tobacco company and what farmers receive relies on a list of prices for certain grades of tobacco. A weather damaged crop would mean a lower price than one in prime condition, said Appelman. Smaller planting sizes have helped some growers get through without many problems. "We were fortunate, we managed to find some help and got housed before the weather got rainy and bad," said Libby Stitt of Robertson County. "But this is the smallest crop we have ever raised, only 13 acres." Across the county, Elwood Myers was busy getting his 30-acre crop stripped in time for the sale. He got it planted early and benefited from early harvest in good weather. "This was probably the best seasonable year we have had in a while," said Myers. "It is a good mature crop they can use in their cigarettes." A dependable work force helped make that happen for Myers. "We had local help and had Mexicans, a family that has been with us about five years, to help. We really had no problem with the whole process. It all went fine," said Myers. He knows others were not as fortunate. "I know some smaller farmers had problems getting work hands and getting the crop in before the weather got bad. That is where we had the advantage; we set the first week in May; an early crop is easier to work with than later when the weather may not favor us." said Myers. Myers estimated stripping will take his crew about another week. Overall, the season went well for Maysville mayor and tobacco farmer David Cartmell, though his crop was harvested late in the season. "In the heart of the season it was very hard to find people to put into tobacco. I have seen more people, people I never thought would quit, quitting because of such a hard time finding reliable labor." said Cartmell. "A wet season and a lot of house burn (cause by high moisture content in barn keeping tobacco from curing well) has been hard on some. I have seen some crops rotting in the fields." Getting a crop in meant compromise of normal farming methods. "The labor issue dramatically hit at housing time," said Althauser. Determination helped harvest Cartmell's crop, despite Mother Nature. "We put a lot in the barn, in the rain. It's not the best way, but what we needed to do," said Cartmell. "You have to put it in when you have the help and can't wait on the season anymore." If baled tobacco is not properly cured, or baled too wet, the tobacco company can reject all or part of a crop after it gets to the warehouse. "I saw some coming out today, about half a load, probably for high moisture content," said Cartmell. "They will have to take it back to the farm, probably lay it out on a wagon, let it dry more and rebale before they can bring it back. That takes a lot of time." Getting the labor situation resolved so tobacco work can be done and governmental rules can be followed are a concern for Appelman. "A tobacco crop without that labor force would be a bad situation." said Appelman. "It is too bad the status of the workers has not been resolved in a manner good for both sides." Enditem