We are fortunate that we dodged hurricane Isabel. Damages in the county were very minor, much less than our neighbors to the north. It would have been nice if the rain we received could have been associated with a weather system other than a hurricane, but our farmers really needed a little additional rainfall to help soybeans and cotton fill out properly.

Our farmers have really been blessed this year. In spite of some scattered situations where crops have drowned due to too much water, most crops have, or will, produce much more than average yields this year. This is a drastic difference from last year when all crops suffered because of the drought.

Tobacco farmers and quota owners are still anticipating some kind of information about a tobacco buyout. This topic has been discussed for years, but due to many obstacles, nothing has happened so far other than a lot of discussion. This topic is still being discussed in Congress, and most tobacco growers and quota owners are hopeful that a quota buyout can be completed this year. As specifics are determined, you will see plenty of news coverage about what the final decisions will be, and I will provide additional information in this column. Let's just hope something happens soon.

Tobacco growers throughout North Carolina will have an opportunity next Wednesday, October 1, to vote on a referendum that will allow them to continue to have an active role in the future of tobacco. Polling places for Robeson County have been established at the Cooperative Extension Center and the Farm Service Agency, both of which are offices that are frequently visited by farmers and landowners and both of which are located on Highway 72 West in Lumberton. An additional polling place is Agr- Supply which is located on NC-211 just west of Lumberton.

If you are involved in growing tobacco, as a producer or as a quota owner who sharecrops your tobacco with a producer, you are encouraged to make a special effort to go to one of these places any time during normal business hours next Wednesday and vote. I can't tell you how to vote, but I can share some information with you about how important it is that you do vote.

All aspects of the massive agricultural system in the United States is set up so that governments have responsibilities as well as opportunities to support the profitable production, marketing, and management of every kind of agricultural commodity that can possibly be grown. This includes not only the United States Department of Agriculture but also the various Departments of Agriculture in each of the states.

They have responsibility to ensure foods are safe and that all provisions of the laws affecting these commodities are carried out. They have the responsibility for basic research to deal with issues related to food safety, the environment, and pests. They are responsible for dealing with disasters, the stability of a sound and viable food and fiber system for all citizens of this nation, and that foods are available for national security.

Governments also have the opportunity to support the trade of agricultural products with other nations and to assist producers in many ways to remain competitive with the rest of the world. But governments cannot do it all. There are many local production issues they do not have the funds to address. Governments cannot be directly involved in advertising and promoting specific commodities.

This is where assessment programs take over. These are programs that are allowed by federal and state governments only as long at the majority of those people directly involved in the provisions of that program agree to support it. Then, every six years these people are allowed to vote to determine if they wish to continue the program.

Assessment programs are very common in American agriculture. Virtually all commodity groups have one, including pecans, watermelons, cotton, feeds and fertilizers, and soybeans.

The one you can vote for next week is called "Ten for Tobacco." If you vote to continue this assessment, you agree to continue to provide 10 cents for every 100 pounds of tobacco that you sell to be used for North Carolina tobacco research and education. This is only 10 cents out of approximately every $200 of tobacco you sell.

Last year this assessment generated about $35,000. Examples of how these funds were used include the development of new varieties that can withstand some of the disease pressure we have in this area, research to help solve problems with greenhouse transplants, research to determine what chemicals can be used to replace others that will soon be removed from the shelves, research to help solve tomato spotted wilt problems, and research to solve insect problems so insecticide applications can be reduced.

So if you intend to be growing tobacco next year, it would be to your advantage to make sure this kind of support and research is still available. In essence, you have the ability to determine tobacco's competitive future through research and education.

Please vote.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 12/09/03