Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-03-18
TOBACCO TROUBLES
IN ''BLACk PATCH
Growers of Western Kentucky
May Not Put In Plant Beds
This Spring

The present situation that eXsiSt in
the Black Tobacco district regarding
the tobacco crop of 1919 the major
portion of which is at this time in the
barns, is the popular discussion among
farmers, in that section of Kentucky.
Many phases regarding the cause for
the holdup in the selling of the crop
are being discussed. The farmers of
that district are thoroly Investigating
the condition that have brought the
market to a standstill.
A discussion at Paducah caused one
farmer from M'Cracken county to
state what he and his neighbors had
figured out regarding the variation of
the foreign exchange and how it af-'
fected the present crop now in the
barns. The discussion divulged the
fact that the English pound sterling
at the first Of the year was worth
1913 and at that time tobacco was
selling at a round average of Fl cents
per pound. The English pound ster-
ling at its lowest rating was worth
1918 and tobacco at that time was
selling on the Paducah market for Is
cents per pound as a round average
which goes to prove that there was q
drop in the value of the English
pound sterling amounting to
81 cents, of Is per cent, while tobac-.
co dropped in price 33 1-3 per cent.
The English pound sterling has re-
gained it's value and is at this time
valued at about $3.7O and tobacco is
as low as ever. -ts
! Other farmers unanimously agreed
that they were seriously considering
holding their crop for year. A num-
Der of them have made financial az
rangements whereby they can do this
and very little preparation is being
made for the planting of another crop
this year, altho the time is well at
hand when plantbeds should be sown
Over half the farmers of Milan pre-
cinct in McCracken county are intend
ing to hold their crop for one yeal
is necessary. Farmers from many
other precincts were of the same
opinion, and a few of them are con-
sidering the proposition of storing it
Following is the statement ISSUED
by Farm Bureau at Paducah:
| 'The tobacco sales at the barns
during the past ten days which were
reported to the McCracken Count!
Farm Bureau are as follows: TIVE
thousand pounds at 20 cents and
cents; 1000 pounds at 10 and 8; 4,00t
pounds at 16 and s; 1000 pounds a
.. Is, and $4,000 pounds at Is cents
round; 1000 pounds at 25 and 8; 7,
900 pounds at 20 and '16.
"Four farmers in McCracken coun
ty refused to sell their crops at 25 ant
cents. Three or four crops Wer'
lsold near Boaz at prices around 1!
cents and few near Calvert City a
the same figure. The opinion of tn
|
such prices are considerably less thai
the cost of production and that thOs
prices will not move the present crop
Officials of the National Federation
of Farm Bureaus have been in Wash
ington the past week for the purpos
of investigating the foreign markets
4DL hit oil VII
beef and cotton. Just what has deve
loped from their investigation has no
been made public.
"The meeting of delegates from fiv
counties at the courthouse was NOR
or less preliminary and progresse
only to the stage of passing resolu
for March % at which delegates fror
counties in Western Kentucky will b
present and possibly some from West
lern kentucky will be present and pos
sibly some from Western Tennessee,
During next week farmers in Nh
Cracker county will hold precint
:. meetings.
- Several farmers are rehangin
| their tobacco in order to prevent an
damage in the bulk during the neg
two months. The tobacco committe
!; O. the farm bureau does not ordinaril
/ believe in giving advice, but rigl
Z: now it wishes to state that this is tt
{! time for farmers to use their be.
| judgement and get neither frightene
| or excited"