Tobacco Sabotage Suspected In Farm's Crop Loss

Source from:  April 24, 2008 wxii12.com SANFORD, N.C. 04/25/2008

State agriculture officials are investigating an intentional poisoning of tobacco crops at a farm in Sanford. Lee County farmer John Gross told WRAL the plants inside his greenhouse have been destroyed. Officials believe someone put a toxic chemical on the plants, and tests are being done to determine what chemical was used. Lee County sheriff's Capt. Jeff Johnson said the motive behind the poisoning is unclear. No arrests have been made. Gross noticed the plants were dying when he returned from a vacation last month. He said a concrete block that holds the greenhouse door shut had been moved. The plants would have been used to cover 150 acres of tobacco fields. Gross estimates the damage at $50,000. Enditem