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
July 2, 2002
2002 Tobacco Market Openings Delayed
COLUMBIA---The USDA today announced that the opening dates for the 2002 flue-cured tobacco auction sales have been delayed until July 30 for the southern region markets, July 31 for the eastern belt, and August 6 for the old belt in the northern region markets.
The southern region markets include the Georgia-Florida Belt and the South Carolina and border North Carolina Belt. The northern region markets include the eastern North Carolina Belt and the northern North Carolina and Virginia Old Belt.
Flue-cured tobacco auction sales were originally scheduled to open on July 23 in the southern region and July 24 in the northern region. These dates were recommended by the Flue-Cured Tobacco Advisory Committee on May 21 based on crop conditions at that time. As a result of drought and other unfavorable crop conditions, flue-cured tobacco will not be ready to market as originally anticipated.
Based on requests from various segments of the tobacco industry, the opening dates will be delayed to allow producers additional time to prepare their product for market. The delay will permit the tobacco industry to adjust to the crop conditions and allow the auction markets to open in a proper manner.
For more information, call Tommy Coleman, SC Department of Agriculture Tobacco Marketing Specialist, 843-665-5154. For current tobacco statistical information, call USDA Agriculture Statistics Service at 803-765-5333 or log on to http://www.nass.usda.gov/sc.