Pitt County

• Pitt County is the largest flue-cured tobacco producing county in the United States.

• Since 1999, tobacco production in Pitt County has declined by 49%. In 1999, flue-cured tobacco was produced on 17,337 acres and 38,956,239 pounds were reported to having been sold at auction warehouses. The value of the crop in 1999 was $67, 394,293. In 2004, flue-cured tobacco was produced on 8,837 acres producing 20,014,501 pounds. The total value of the 2004 tobacco crop in Pitt County was $33,368,986.

• In 1998, tobacco was produced on 13,384 acres in Pitt County with a total yield of 31,939,000 pounds. Carryover for the county was reported to be 1,617,000. Based on an average price of $1.77 per pound, tobacco was valued at $53,669,940 for Pitt County. The total number of pounds sold in Pitt County was 30,332,000 in 1998. The average yield per acre was 2,386 pounds.

• In 1999, Pitt County sold 23,250,696 pounds of tobacco produced on 11,181 acres.

• In 2000, the number of planted acres for Pitt County was 9,187.71 acres. The number of pounds of tobacco sold was 20,144,702 with an average yield of 2481 pounds per acre.

• For 2001, the effective quota for Pitt County will be 19,972,680 pounds being produced on 9,534 acres. The amount of tobacco contracted will be 80% and three tobacco warehouses have planned to auction tobacco.

• In 2005, flue-cured tobacco was produced on 7233.86 acres in Pitt County.

• In 2006, flue cured tobacco was produced on 8,203.33 acres which was a 13.4% increase over 2005 levels. Burley tobacco was produced on 88.94 acres in 2006.

• There were 474 tobacco farms in Pitt County in 1997. Tobacco was produced on 245 of these.

General Tobacco Facts

• 10% of the Cuban economy is believed to be related to the tobacco industry in that country.

• 9.73% of tobacco was sold on contract during the 2000 marketing season. (50 million pounds)

• In 2000, there were 31 sets of USDA graders and 49 tobacco markets.

• In 2000, 80.5% of tobacco sold was classifed to be "mature, ripe, and mellow". This was the highest percentage in this category since 1974.

• Tobacco represents 14% of the total cash crop value in North Carolina.

• There are about 12,000 tobacco farmers in North Carolina and about 80,000 allotment holders. 16,000 workers are involved in processing, manufacturing, wholesale and retail outlets, and related industries.

• The 1999 flue-cured tobacco quota declined by 17.5 % in 1999 after an 18 % decline in 1998. The 1999 burley tobacco quota declined by 28 % in 1999. North Carolina farm sales of tobacco in 1999 likely will be reduced over $160 million from 1998 and $380 million from 1997.

• In 1950, the US produced 25% of the world's flue-cured production. In 2000, that figure is expected to be 6%.

• Tobacco is #7 in terms of cash value among agricultural commodities in the United States. In terms of economic returns, it would take seven acres of cotton to replace one acre of tobacco.

• North Carolina farm sales of tobacco in 1997 were almost $1.2 billion; about 14% of North Carolina farm receipts.

• In tobacco, the top six producing states have 94% of production. Tobacco is produced in 16 states and in 568 tobacco producing counties in the United States.

• More cigarettes were produced in 1996 than any other year in history.

• Tobacco growing requires about 250 man hours of labor per acre harvested. By comparison, it takes about three man-hours to grow and harvest an acre of wheat.  The more than one-half million farm families involved directly and indirectly in producing tobacco in the U.S. were aided by additional seasonal workers.

• In total, tobacco directly and indirectly employs 2.3 million Americans.

• About one out of every 11 workers in North Carolina depends on tobacco for his or her livelihood. Tobacco directly and indirectly provides jobs for more than 280,000 North Carolinians.

• North Carolina produces more than 40% of all tobacco grown in the U.S. and 60% of all flue-cured tobacco.

• In terms of alternative crops, there is no commodity in short supply that farmers can switch to and find a profitable market.

• In 1991, local and state treasuries received $161.6 million in total tax revenues from the tobacco core and supplier sectors in North Carolina, including consumer excise and sales taxes, and personal and corporate income taxes.

• Based on current tax trends, one acre of tobacco is equal to $62,685 in taxes

• Tobacco is the world's leading non-food crop. It is grown in more than 100 countries.

• Tobacco accounts for 5 percent of the state's gross product, or about $11 billion. It ranks second to textiles among North Carolina industries.

Tobacco Exports

• According to USDA, US Flue-cured exports for the calendar year 2000 were 279 million pounds (farm sales weight) compared to 280 million pounds in 1999. Flue-cured exports in 2000 accounted for approximately 50% of the 566 million pounds of flue-cured tobacco the growers marketed in 2000.

• "The Chinese Factor" - The recent announcement by the Chinese government has raised questions concerning its effect on the demand for US leaf. In 1989, when the Chinese government banned US leaf from entering their country, it was attributed to the threat of Blue Mold being introduced into their country. China grows about half of the world's tobacco. During that year, China imported $43 million worth of tobacco from the US. The chinese cigarette contains 100% flue-cured tobacco in its blend. According to the Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation, China's 325 million smokers consumed about 5.5 billion pounds of tobacco last year which was over six times the size of the 1999 U.S. flue-cured crop.

  According to experts, there is speculation that China might purchase 20 to 30 million pounds of US Flue-cured tobacco annually. It is true that a small portion of that market could have significant implications for the amount of tobacco produced in the US.

• Brazil is the number one exporter of flue-cured tobacco. Zimbabwe is second and the United States is third.

• These exports generated a positive contribution of $5.6 billion to the U.S. balance of trade.

• About 40% of the flue-cured tobacco produced is exported to other countries. Almost 50% of the flue-cured tobacco exported by the United States goes to Europe (87% of this goes to the EEC).

• The United States exports 40% of unmanufactured tobacco and 35% of its cigarettes abroad.

• 527 million pounds of leaf are used for cigarette production. In 2002, this figure is expected to be 445 million pounds.

• The typical cigarette has 47% flue-cured tobacco, 38% burley, 14% Oriental, and 1% Maryland tobacco.

• In 1998, the distribution of cigarette users dollar was: 2% for growers, 51% manufacturers, and 20% to Retailers/Wholesalers

• Tobacco exports represent $600 million per year if value added is included.

• In 1991, tobacco brought in $1.2 billion per year favorable balance of trade for the U.S. economy.

• China, USA, Brazil, India, Turkey, and Zimbabwe are the world's leading tobacco producers.

• In 1996, cigarette exports reached 244 billion sticks valued at $4.7 billion.

• In 1998, exports were donw 78 million pieces from the 1992 level.

• Exports fell to 217 pieces in 1997 and 201 pieces in 1998.

Tobacco Imports

• In 1998, 281.2 million pounds of tobacco were imported into the United States. The top four importing countries are Brazil, Zimbabwe, Argentina, and Malawi.

• Flue-cured imports peaked in 1993 at 284.7 million pounds. In 2000, 254.2 million pounds of tobacco were imported. Of this amount, 47% was flue-cured tobacco.

• .8 pounds of tobacco is used to produce 1000 cigarettes.

• Flue-cured imports average 107 million pounds per year.

General Agriculture

• According to the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service, 407.5 million pounds of flue-cured tobacco was sold in North Carolinal for more than $729.4 million in 2000.

• Approximately 60% of the flue-cured tobacco production is within the Neuse River and Tar-Pamlico River basins.

• North Carolina's agribusiness which included farming, manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing, delivers $48.8 billion into the State's economy.

• NC Agribusiness employs almost 22 percent of the state's total workforce.

• North Carolina ranks third in agricultural diversity.

• In 1998, it has been estimated that there are 50,000 farmers in North Carolina.

• There are approximately 10.5 million acres of farm land in North Carolina.

• Agriculture contributes $42 billion to our state's economy each year.

This page (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/pitt/ag/tobacco/tobfacts.html) was created by Mitch Smith on November 16, 1998 and updated on September 1, 2006.