Tobacco Buyout May Put Burley Farmers Out Of Business

Source from:  By David McArthur LOUISVILLE 11/26/2004

The bids are drying up for Kentucky's tobacco farmers thanks to increased production overseas and a shift to contract growing. Next year, there will be no more price support, and a federal buyout is on the way. As WAVE 3's David McArthur explains, the burley auctions are barely open. Hidden among the typical tobacco auction sights and sounds, Mattie Mack's voice echoes a mix of emotions. "We're here, but what are we going to do for tomorrow?" Mattie represents a growing concern, but hopes for at least one last crop, asking the buyers, "Let me go out looking good. " Leroy Cannon has farmed tobacco since the 1970s. "My concerns are there is going to be a lot of instability from here on out." Tobacco was once Kentucky's largest cash crop, but a federal buyout may put burley farmers out of business. "We've got to go with the flow now," Mack said. "We don't have a voice in tobacco anymore it's been taken away from us." Her husband, William Mack, added: "Everybody has mixed emotions about how we are going to survive. Nothing can replace tobacco." The tobacco crop at Shelbyville's Star Warehouse could represents the end of an era. There were once six warehouse floors full of tobacco. Now there's only one, and it's only about half-full -- and it could be empty next year after the buyout. Farmer John Griffiths puts it this way: "I'll survive, but it won't be as good, you know what I mean?" As she got her check, Mack said her personal pitch worked again. She says this check was "fantastic," but knows it's "the last one." But success leaves one lingering question: "what are we going to do now to keep things going?" For a little extra perspective on the auction decline, 10 years ago, more than 200 tobacco warehouses, statewide, held auctions during opening week. That number has now dwindled to 30. Enditem