Tobacco Growers Must Return Forms for Trust Money

Source from:  The Rogersville Review NASHVILLE 08/26/2004

Certification forms for the 2004 Phase II tobacco trust payment will be arriving in the mail soon for more than 55,000 tobacco growers and quota owners, including numerous farmers in Hawkins County. The Tennessee Tobacco Farmers Certifying Board announced this week that farmers can begin looking for their tobacco certific tion forms sometime around the Labor Day holiday. Eligible burley tobacco growers and quota owners will have until October 18 to file their forms in order to receive a payment by year's end. "With a proposed tobacco buyout yet to be decided by Congress, there's a lot of uncertainty as to how it might impact the future of the Phase II program," said Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. "Regardless of what happens we want to ensure that tobacco farmers receive all of the Phase II dollars they are entitled to," he added. "It is important that farmers and quota owners complete and return their forms as soon as possible to allow time for processing and to qualify for a payment at the end of the year." Once forms are completed and returned, farmers will receive a letter verifying that they are certified. Farmers having questions about their certification status can call the Tennessee tobacco information line toll-free at 1-877-332-0711. The board approved a plan in February that allocates 90 percent of trust dollars to burley tobacco growers and 10 percent to quota owners. This is the sixth year for the distribution of trust fund dollars, and payments will be based on 2003 crop production records. The amount of dollars to be distributed will be known in November when the national trustee notifies states of their respective share of trust fund dollars. The amount is expected to be somewhat less than the projected $38 million due to a decline in cigarette production. The trust was established as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement between states and major tobacco manufacturers. Under the Phase II prov sion of the agreement, bu ley tobacco growers and quota owners in tobacco producing states are to share in the trust fund over a 12-year period to help offset potential lost income. For information about the Phase II program or to check individual certific tion status, Tennessee burley tobacco growers and quota owners can call the Tennessee tobacco information line toll-free at 1-877-332-0711, or for general information about the tobacco growers trust, visit online at www.picktnproducts.org/trust. Enditem