Burley Tobacco Production to Increase

Source from:  tobaccofarmquarterly.com April 2, 2007 04/04/2007

The National Agricultural Statistics Service expects the volume of burley harvested in the U.S. to increase by 4 percent in 2007. Despite concerns related to labor availability and rising costs, the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association (BTGCA) expects production in the five-state region it serves to increase by a higher percentage. Burley acres in Kentucky are expected to increase from 73,000 acres in 2006 to 77,000 acres in 2007, an addition of 5.5 percent. Ohio production is expected to remain stable at 3,500 acres and Missouri will increase 7 percent to 1,600 acres. Estimates were not available for Indiana and West Virginia. Roger Quarles, president of the BTGCA, credits his organization's successful programs, including a cost-share program to help farmers expand their tobacco operations and support to help growers acquire H-2A labor, for part of the expansion. Enditem