ag-formation

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                  Telephone (803) 734-2210

D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER                                        Becky Walton, Director of Public Information

P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211                                              bwalton@scda.state.sc.us

www.scda.state.sc.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2001

(FLORENCE, SC)---In order to comply with demand for indirect curing, tobacco growers are in the process of converting or retrofitting their tobacco barns. Financial assistance for retrofitting tobacco barns has been made available from the Flue-Cured Stabilization Service and R.J. Reynolds.

In addition, the Palmetto Farm Credit Bank has loans available for tobacco barn conversion. The bank says that tobacco growers who have barns that have not been converted can contact a loan officer for financing up to 5 years, up to 100%, and at competitive pricing. For more information, call 800-741-7332 or contact your local office.