Knoxville, Tennessee
November 30, 2007
Since the federal tobacco program
ended in 2005, tobacco production has changed and reliable data
about the industry has not kept pace with the transition.
To support the long-term sustainability and vitality of U.S.
tobacco production, Philip Morris USA, in cooperation with
Philip Morris International Management SA, has funded the
establishment of the
Center for
Tobacco Grower Research at the
University of Tennessee
Institute of Agriculture. The center will coordinate with other
land grant universities in tobacco-producing states to provide
timely research in the areas of U.S.
tobacco production, economics and markets.
Daniel Green, familiar throughout the tobacco community for his
work with the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association and
as a former Extension associate working on tobacco policy
issues, coordinates the new center. Green is working with UT’s
well known tobacco policy analyst Dr.
Kelly Tiller.
Green is excited about his new opportunity to contribute to the
industry.
“The U.S. tobacco crop is expected to exceed $1 billion in value
this year.
Tobacco remains the most important cash crop for hundreds of
rural communities,” he said. “The work of the center will
benefit these rural communities, tobacco growers and others
interested in the tobacco industry.”
Green said traditional production information such as the amount
of tobacco grown and harvested, the amount sold, the location of
growers, and conditions affecting tobacco growth, including
weather, disease and labor issues has not been regularly
available since 2005. “Such information is necessary to
monitoring the vitality of the industry,” he said.
The center is charged with publishing regular summaries of
industry-related research. The information will be available to
the entire industry, including agricultural organizations and
leadership, manufacturers and former, current and potential
future growers.
“While the center’s primary objective will be to collect and
disseminate information necessary to enhance the long-term
sustainability of U.S.
tobacco production, research conducted by the center may improve
the success of current growers or attract new or former growers
to the industry,” Green explained.
Philip Morris USA, in cooperation with Philip Morris
International Management SA, provided $445,000 in funding to
establish the center.
“Because American tobacco is the backbone of our blends, a
stable supply of U.S. tobacco is very important to Philip Morris
USA,” said Jeanette Hubbard, Philip Morris USA’s Vice President
of Leaf. “That’s why we are pleased to work with the University
of Tennessee to support sustainability of U.S. tobacco
production through the research conducted by the center.
The University of Tennessee has an established record of
academic rigor and the UT Agricultural Policy Analysis Center is
widely recognized by the tobacco community for its
tobacco-related research and outreach programs.”
Among the center’s first projects is to create a database of
growers. Green said the center needs the database to gather
information about U.S. tobacco production. Grower participation
is completely voluntary and only summary data will be available
to the public. Each specific grower’s information will remain
confidential. “The purpose of the database will be to develop
accurate research analyses and summaries,” Green said.
The center will encourage grower participation by working with
organizations whose members may include tobacco growers and
through participation in tobacco-related events.
Green plans to publish the center’s first summaries early in
2008.
For more information, or to volunteer to participate in the
database, visit the center’s Web site:
http://www.TobaccoGrowerResearch.com or contact Green at
1-866-974-0414, e-mail
dgreen19@utk.edu.
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