BURLEY GROWERS WRAP UP A GOOD CROP

 

Burley stalks near Nashville, Tn., have been speared and set upright to wilt in the sun. File photo by Christopher Bickers.

Tennessee--The burley and dark crops were able to recover from the period of limited rainfall earlier this year, says Mitchell Richmond, Tennessee Extension tobacco specialist. “There was some concern in early July, but I think now it will be a solid crop. But we will have to see how the weather holds out for curing.” There was some black shank throughout the season, then some angular leaf spot started popping up in some areas of dark production late in the season, he says. “I think we can expect overall average to above average yields for burley and dark tobacco in Tennessee.” NASS estimates that 86 percent of the crop has been cut. Most of the Connecticut Broadleaf in Tennessee was harvested prior to the first week of September, which is ideal for this shorter season type. No production estimate is available yet, but Richmond says, ”I have talked with some growers who are happy with their yield and quality this year.” Kentucky--92 percent of the state's tobacco has been cut, says NASS-USDA. Yields appear to be fairly normal since many producers were able to irrigate during the summer months. North Carolina--The small burley crop is projected at 65 percent harvested. In other tobacco news: Note: Two new publications from the Kentucky and Tennessee Extension Tobacco Programs could help you out in 2022. Ordering/Casing Burley and Dark Tobacco – Post-Curing Management Practices, and Barn Management for Curing Connecticut Broadleaf Cigar Wrapper Tobacco. “These are available through the University of Tennessee and University of Kentucky Extension websites,” says Richmond. Prices were up in Brazil: The average price paid to tobacco growers in southern Brazil for the crop recently marketed was up 61.5 percent to (in Brazilian Reales) BRL. That would be 17.02 (US$3.25) per kilogram. Among the three southern states of Brazil—the heart of Brazilian tobacco country—the average price was BRL17.26 ($3.21 US) per kilogram in Rio Grande do Sul, BRL17.19 (US$3.20) per kilogram in Santa Catarina and BRL16.41 (US$3.06) per kilogram in Parana. The Tobacco Farm Life Museum along with the N.C. Extension Service will host a “Celebration of Tobacco Extension in North Carolina” on Saturday, October 29, on the museum grounds. It will start with a social hour at 4 p.m. followed by a pig pickin' at 5 p.m. The guests of honor will be 12 retired members of the Extension Service: Blake Brown, David Shew, Mike Boyette, David Smith, Bill Collins, Sterling Southern, Tom Melton, Earl Wernsman, Gerald Peedin, Doug Worsham. Tickets are $15. Order via email. The address: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/nc-state-extension-retired-tobacco-specialists-celebration-tickets-416678465507. A networking event for tobacco growers: A reception will be held in the Hospitality Tent the North Carolina State Fair on October 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (right after the mock leaf auction). All tobacco growers and people supporting the industry are invited to attend. Besides networking, the program will include a panel discussion on the future of tobacco. Beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Reserve a place at https://forms.office.com/r/Z71Tu WU X6U. Following is a set of questions with answers about the Lewis Settlement Class action case concerning the value of memberships in the flue-cured cooperative.   Is this for all Farmers/growers? ANSWER: No. This lawsuit is for Flue Cured Tobacco growers who were members of the Flue Cured Tobacco Cooperative. Why was there a lawsuit against the Cooperative? ANSWER: The Cooperative held back funds for certain years which are now being returned to the qualifying grower members. How would a claim qualify for a payment? ANSWER: You, or the person or entity for whom you would be filing the claim for, must have been a member of the Flue Cured Tobacco Cooperative at some point between 1946-2004 to be eligible for payment consideration. An important part of the claims process is identifying your claim as one made by or on behalf of a person or company who marketed flue cured tobacco at some point between 1946 and 2004. This should be done by supplying the requested FC Number for that person or company. If you do not have that number, then you must provide information sufficient to identify, in the sole judgment of the trustees, who that person or company was, which would include the name and all addresses they used during the period they marketed flue cured tobacco. A claim cannot be eligible without adequate proof that the person or company, for whom the claim is made, marketed flue cured tobacco at some point between 1946 and 2004. My family member(s) were a grower member(s) but they are deceased. Can an heir (if there was no will) or beneficiary (if there was a will), file a claim? ANSWER: Please consult your personal attorney in these situations. Only Personal Representatives for the Estate of your family member can file a claim. Certain documents will need to be submitted to prove that the claim is being filed by the Personal Representatives for the Estate. If the Estate for your family member has been closed, it will need to be re-opened by the court which handled the Estate. I am the spouse of a deceased grower member. Would I need to provide information on the Estate? ANSWER: Yes. I have multiple siblings or I am the only child. Would I still need to provide information on the Estate? ANSWER: Yes. What information do I need to provide to submit my claim? ANSWER: Answer all the questions on the claim form and submit the requested documentation supporting the claim which must be received before the Settlement Claim Bar Date. I want to file a claim for more than one grower member. Can I fill out one claim form for more than one member? ANSWER: No. Only one claim form can be submitted for a flue cured member number. There cannot be multiple owners of a flue cured member number. If there are multiple beneficiaries of a member’s estate, that claim is filed by the personal representative for the estate. What documents do I need to prove the claim? ANSWER: Examples are documents that establish the Flue Cured member number, such as, a Flue Cured member card or a stock certificate, documents that establish the mailing addresses of the grower member at the time of membership. If you marketed tobacco from 2000-2004 by direct contracting, documents that establish pounds marketed during any of those years. If your claim is for the 1967-1973 crop years, documents such as certificates of interest from any of those years. The Claims Administrator and the QSF Trustees will determine if the submitted documentation adequately supports the claim. I have no documents. Will completing the form be enough to prove my claim? ANSWER: Generally, without some documentary support, claims will not be approved. However, providing the Flue Cured member number and the mailing address of the grower member at the time of membership may assist the claims administrator in determining if there are documents that support your claim. Claims without documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Can you fill out the claim form for me? ANSWER: No. Neither the Claims Administrator nor the QSF Trustee can complete the claim form for you. Can you provide me with information or documents about my membership or pounds of tobacco grown to help fill out the claim form? ANSWER: No. You should complete the information requested in the Claim Form to the best of your ability and provide copies of any documentation that you have to support your claim. However, even if you do not have documentation, you may still submit your claim, and it is possible that you may still be able to participate in the settlement based on the Cooperative’s records. The claims administrator will review those records to determine if there is data to support your claim. What is the deadline for submitting a claim form and documentation? ANSWER: All claims and supporting documentation must be received by the claims administrator no later than 5 p.m. EDT on December 12, 2022. How much money is this about? ANSWER: See the confirmation order found here and the Qualified Settlement Fund Claims and Distribution Procedures found here for the amount of the settlement and For how claims will be determined. How soon may the claim be paid? ANSWER: All claims must be reviewed before any single claim is approved and paid. The Court has allowed 120 days to submit all claims; and 120 days for the QSF Trustee to review each claim. If the QSF Trustee has objections to the claim, the QSF Trustee has 90 days to informally resolve any objection to the claim before objections are filed with the court. What if I need to amend my claim before the claim deadline? ANSWER: Please resubmit your claim if you need to add additional information or documentation.  Will I have the opportunity to amend my claim form or submit additional documentation if the QSF Trustee determines that my claim is not valid? ANSWER: Yes. If the QSF Trustee asserts an objection to your claim, you will receive written notification with the reason that your claim was rejected. At that point, you may be requested to submit additional information by a specified deadline. If you submit the requested information and the QSF Trustees still objects to your claim, the QSF Trustee will file a written objection to your claim and submit it for judicial resolution.