Tobacco.org

Negotiations continue for flue exit package  

Victoria Day weekend is traditionally thought of as the start of planting for tobacco farmers. Planting 2007’s crop is something many growers thought wouldn’t happen as they have been waiting for an exit strategy to be announced by the federal government. No exit plan is in sight, and no crop size has been set. This isn’t the first time growers have planted without knowing a crop size, however. Fred Neukamm, chairman of the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board, said an exit package won’t be announced before planting starts but added an exit package for this spring can’t be ruled out either. "As time ticks on it becomes more difficult to fathom something will happen prior to the issuance of quota and the crop going in the ground," he said.

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