Tobacco Auction Winds Down

Source from:  News Channel 5 Nashville 12/10/2004

It's a Tennessee tradition that is nearly history. Thursday, in Robertson County, The Tobacco Auction took its final bid. Inside the Farmer's Wharehouse in Robertson County tobacco growers like Robert Hughes enjoyed the the memories Thursday. "This stuff right here has fed many a more poor family and sent many a children to school off of tobacco," Hughes said. [img border=0 hspace="4" vspace="4" align="left" src=http://www.tobaccochina.com/english/picture/041209tobacco.jpg] Since the early 30s the process of making money off of tobacco has begun at the tobacco auction. It is a system, run by the federal government, where the farmers and buyers come together and make a deal through a bidding process. It is supposed to help protect the farmer from being low balled. "It has made our towns - it has made our families- able to have our living. It's just something we hate to see go," said Katrina Morris, an auction owner. Beginning next year the auction system will be done away with and the deals will be made directly between the cigarette companies and farmers. It could lead to prices being cut dramatically. Hughes said he’s concerned the change will hurt him because he’s a small farmer. He also said he’s concerned his line of work will also suffer another loss With a drop in profits, Hughes is considering quitting the tobacco business and enjoying his hardwork. Tennessee is the third largest tobacco-producing state in the country. North Carolina and Kentucky are ranked ahead of Tennessee. Enditem