Tobacco becomes a growing treasure again

After quite prolonged time of silence and nonsupport tobacco becomes a treasure for American farmers. Due to low prices, tobacco crops from US awoke the interest of such states as China, Russia and Mexico. These states are eager to sign contracts to export the product to their territories.

Since 2005, U.S. tobacco acreage has risen for 20 %. For example in southern part of Illinois extension of areas where tobacco planted was registered. Even if, this year prices have been low, large areas of plantations cover the deficit.

Farmers are very satisfied with the results of this year and annually they try to enlarge the areas of cultivations. For example, Martin Ray Barbre, the farmer who had never used to grow tobacco, as it was economically infeasible for him to do so, now he is pleased with the result.

”If somebody told me seven or eight years ago that I’d be growing tobacco today, I’d say they were crazy," said the gruff 52-year-old farmer, plucking a yellowing leaf from one of his plants and taking a deep smell of the raw, woody aroma.

Now, for Barbre, along with other farmers from 33 other states, growing of tobacco becomes a profitable business. Barbre has used to grow corn for decades, although corn is flirting with near-record prices at around $4 a bushel, “there’s no way corn can get high enough” to compete with tobacco, says Martin, shaking his head. “There’s just too much money in tobacco.”

Although, as a result of instability on tobacco markets there are states where cultivation of this plant has diminished.

Thanks to tobacco companies, old tradition of growing tobacco is maintained. Tobacco companies offer financial assistance to farmers who invest in new curing barns, drying racks greenhouses and machinery. “U.S. tobacco is really the backbone of our blends,” Henry Long, a vice president at Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group Inc. says. “Our job is to ensure we have a stable supply of U.S. tobacco to meet current and future needs.”