| 110th Year, 30th Issue | Thursday, March 4, 1999 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Due in part to a 45 percent increase in cigarette prices since January, local farmers are faced with a 28 percent drop in quotas for burley tobacco.
Considering the average price of burley tobacco is $1.85 per pound, this could have a significant impact on farmers who rely on tobacco production as their main source of income. The drop in quota for 1998 was nine percent, creating a 37 percent drop in two years.
There is approximately 400 acres of burley tobacco growing allotments in Alleghany, according to Alleghany County Tobacco Extension Agent Jackie Helton. About two percent of the state?s tobacco crop is produced in Alleghany.
The quota is based on purchase intentions of cigarette manufacturers and is set each year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The recent settlement between the states and major tobacco companies has left the future of the tobacco farmer facing an uncertain future. The allocation of monies from the tobacco fund is currently being considered in federal and state governments.
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