Younger Pitt Tobacco Farmers Discuss Future

Source from:  pitt.ces.ncsu.edu 14th, 2007 in Community 11/20/2007

Fourteen of Pitt County's youngest tobacco farmers participated in a tobacco focus group on November 7 which closely examined their views of the tobacco industry. This focus group is part of a project designed by the University of Tennesse intended to measure the attitudes of younger flue-cured and burley tobacco producers in the southeastern United States. Throughout the focus group session, producers were asked to outline some of the pros and cons of the tobacco business. Pros included raising a crop which teaches life skills such as "patience" and being able to work along side of family members. Growing a crop of tobacco is rewarding on soils which are difficult for other crops to be managed for profit. Cons on growing tobacco were labor (listed as the top issue in production), raising fuel costs, and a continued growing negative public sentiment against a crop which has meant so much to Pitt County. One grower commented, "Everytime that I hear my son mention that he might would like to be a farmer, I do everything I can to discourage him." Several growers commented on a growing apathy experienced on behalf of buying stations regarding their role as a providers of a raw product. Since the tobacco buyout legislation, tobacco farm units have increased dramatically in size due to fewer farmers and the willingness of buyers to buy more tobacco. The Pitt County tobacco farmer focus group was the second held in North Carolina with the first being held in Winston Salem on November 6. More sessions will likely be held in 2008. Enditem