Evening star., 1947-11-16
5-Point Program
To End tobacco
Problems Urged
Formula Offered
By Maryland Farm
Bureau Committee
by ]. L. MiehoeI

BY J. L. Mtehoel
Sharply lowered production costs.
higher parity prices and establish
ment of a Government grading sys-
TEN are fundamental to improve
ment of the unfavorable situation
confronting tobacco leaf growers of
five Southern Maryland counties,
according to Walter B. Posey, Uni
versity of Maryland tobacco spe-
cialist.
Mr.. Posey made his observations
In releasing to The Star a five
point program just completed by
the Marketing Committee Of the
Maryland Farm Bureau.
Objectives Listed.
The 12-man regional committee,
headed by j. B. ,Morsell, former
Calvert County agricultural agent,
said these ends must be sought:
/. A law prohibiting growers from
selling tobacco during the winter
months, or at any time when auc-
ton and hogshead markets are
closed.
Mr.. Posey repeatedly has declared
that such sales were one of the
major causes for low bids offered
when markets opened last spring
Tobacco manufacturers, he ex-
planned, were informed of prices
paid when farmers sold their leaf
to local buyers at low figures last
fall and winter. Buyers, he believes
based this years prices largely on
preseason sales figures.
2. Discontinuance by the Univer-
sity of Maryland of the issuance OF
price forecasts, and statements in
dioating that prices prevailing dur
ing the sales season are satisfactory
to growers.
For example, Mr.. Posey said,
statements that farmers have re-
jected few or no bids gives the buy
ers, the erroneous impression that
they are satisfied with prevailing
offers.
Higher Parity Prices.
3. Congressional action to raise
parity prices for Maryland tobacco
to a figure at least 5 cents above
that of the Kentucky barley area.
This, Mr.. Posey said, would mean
approximately 40 cents pound for
the 1948 season.
4. Establishment Of a Government
grading system in Maryland, but
only If higher parity prices are
obtained.
5. A thorough investigation and
continuous supervision of market
ing practices.
approximately 100000 pounds
Of tobacco were sold this year in
Southern Maryland auction ware
houses, and at the hogshead market
in Baltimore, at an average Of 45.3
cents a pound. Farmers had ex-
peeted To receive not less than 10
cents a pound.
Production costs, figured last
spring at 60 cents a pound, have
been revised, Mr.. Posey said today,
and now are estimated at 80 cents
pound.
Lower Prices in 1917 Forecast.
Long-range price predictions indi-
cate that prices next year are likely
to be lower than in 1947.
Government parity for Maryland
tobacco was 27 cents a pound in
1s47. The figure has been set at
32.S for the 1948 season.
Maryland has not adopted the
Governments leaf-grading proce-
dure, and is the only tobacco-pro-
ducing area in the country where
the system is not employed.
Production costs can be lowered
Mr.. Posey declared, by eonfning
tobacco paintings to land known
to produce bright leaf and by using
machinery and labor saving devices
Careful handling and grading OF
cured leaf, he added, will result In
higher offers from buyers.
Especially needed, he said, are
tobacco-harvesting machines, and
apparatus to reduce manpower en-
ployed in hanging freshly cut Leaf
in curing barns.
He also advised farmers to build
stripping rooms, 50 that tobacco
can be stripped through the winter
Action Called Step Forward.
Referring to the Tobacco Au-
thority authorized at the, Maryland
Legislatures recent special session
Mr.. Posey said he considered the
General Assembly's action a ster
forward.
Principal powers granted the five.
man authority are the right to levy
a tax of cents basket, or sc
cents on each hogshead of tobacco
sold in Maryland, and to require
buyers to obtain licenses costing
$3.50 each.
The authority's chief function will
be to conduct study of the tobacco
situation as a whole, and to report
findings to the General Assembly
at It's next regular session.
Each Of the five authority men,
bers are to receive $500 a year, plus
expenses. An executive secretary
will be employed at salary not yet
fixed.
Method of Selection.
Gov. Lane will appoint members
Of the authority from lists submitted
as follows:
One from three names submitted
by the Extension Service of the Uni
versity of Maryland; one from three
names suggested by warehouseman
and other selling agencies. and three
from a list of 10 submitted by the
State Farm Bureau.
Each of the five southern coun-
ties is to offer two nominees.
Four-man subcommittee have
been named to study special phases
of the tobacco situation. Agrtcul-
tural agents of Anne Arundel, Prince
Georges, Calvert, Charles and St.
Marys Counties are to act as ad.
visors to these committees. Mr.
Posey will serve as general advisor
to all committees.
Committees Listed.
The committees are:
Tobacco Authority-E. A. Miller, Calver
County chairman; George Sachse, Juliui
Ssrran and Robert M. Hall, county agent
Federal Grading and Price Support-Dr
q. r. De Vault. head OF the Department O