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Comments on Draft Report -
Stan Murphy,
2/09/01 12:21AM
Following are a few comments I have on the draft
report.
1. I strongly believe the allotment/price
support system should be maintained. I agree it needs some revisions,
but getting rid of the quota in total would be a huge mistake in my
opinion.
2. I believe that allotments should be leasable/transferable
across county and state lines. I have never understood the purpose
of the present restrictions. I believe this would help both the quota
owners and growers over the long term.
3. I have little faith that direct
contracting between the growers and the tobacco companies would be beneficial
to the growers. I agree with the comments from two economists in the
draft report that contracting would result in an immediate
transfer of $500 million annually from the growers to the tobacco
companies. This direct contracting would be even more dangerous to the
growers if the contracting is outside of the quota system.
4. I also believe some form of buyout by the
government of the quotas makes sense for everyone. Perhaps this could
start with a buyout of the pounds that have been cut from the quotas over
the last 5 years. This could be funded from the government and tobacco
companies. The farmers deserve a larger share of the 250 billion
than the 5 billion seta aside under Phase 2.
I grew up on a tobacco farm in North Florida and
my brother has leased his quota during the last 3 years. The first
year he leased it (1998) was the first time that tobacco was not grown on the
family farm by either my brother, my father, or my grandfather, covering a continuous
period of over 75 years.
Thanks for considering my comments.
Stan Murphy
4102 West Culbreath Ave.
Tampa FL 33609
813 218 4118