There's a five-year window to do this . . . And there's a certain group of farmers who will want to raise tobacco regardless. Farmers have until Dec. 22 to turn in applications to take part in the first year of the buyout. I can't see the Legislature not honoring these contracts. Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who spearheaded the program, will leave office in 2002, and cannot legally run again.
Growers voluntarily enter the program.
But opponents worry if enough farmers enter, the program could push those who do not take the buyout out of the tobacco business forever. We're almost totally dependent on our export market, Europe. A draft copy of the contract obtained by Capital News Service lays out the program's details. If a farmer dies within that period, payments would go to the farmer's estate. They must grow or raise another agricultural product for 10 years after signing the contract.