Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review tobacco production in the United States. Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina is Chairman of the Subcommittee.
“Since colonial times tobacco has been an integral part of North Carolina and the South’s economy. Today’s hearing allowed the Subcommittee to hear from tobacco farmers about the transition tobacco production is going through today," said Chairman McIntyre. “From regulation to a decrease in exports to increased overseas competition, tobacco producers are facing many challenges and this Subcommittee will continue to ensure that their voices are heard."
Tobacco production makes up a significant part of the Southern farm economy - especially in North Carolina and Kentucky, two states that combine to produce 73% of total domestic tobacco acres.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from agricultural economists and co-operative presidents on current proposals for increased regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the challenges tobacco farmers are facing given decreasing exports, increasing competition and the current state of the economy.
The opening statements of all witnesses are available on the Committee website at http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.
Witness List:
Panel I
* Mr. Graham Boyd, Executive Vice President, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, on behalf of Mr. Steve Troxler, Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, North Carolina
* Dr. A. Blake Brown, Agricultural Economist, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
* Dr. William M. Snell, Agricultural Economist, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
* Mr. Tommy Bunn, President, U.S. Tobacco Cooperative, Raleigh, North Carolina
* Mr. Roger Quarles, Producer and President, Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, Georgetown, Kentucky
http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
