When I decided to go into business for myself, I knew that I was going to have to do something different. There was no way to compete with them on size and access to markets. I saw farmers around me working longer hours on more acreage, making less money as the years went on. When I heard what kind of prices were there for organic produce and what demand was out there, I decided that I had to figure out how to be a part of that. But what worked for me wouldn't work for the next guy.
Every situation is a little different.
It's going to take some creativity to adjust to these changes in tobacco. Of all the tools a farmer uses, information is one of the most powerful. Farmers, and especially tobacco growers, can always use more information to help them make good decisions on production, marketing, and finances. Tobacco is being hit with many major changes and pressures, and good information is vital to enable farmers to make the best decisions. It's the Tobacco Communities Project, which is serving the tobacco farming community in seven North Carolina Counties.