Tobacco Contracting for Leaf Growers Down in Va.

Source from:  Associated Press 06/13/2010

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says tobacco contracting for leaf growers is down. Marketing specialist Stanley Duffer says it's hard to tell how individual growers fared. But he says some have had contracts canceled, others may have seen a reduction or no cutback at all. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the number of acres of flue-cured tobacco planted in Virginia is down about 9 percent from 17,500 acres in 2009 to 16,000 this year. Nationally, the flue-cured tobacco crop estimates are down about 8 percent. The decline follows domestic cigarette consumption due to higher taxes, smoking bans and health concerns. Enditem