BURLEY GROWERS GET REFERENDUM ON QUOTA LEASES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 13, 1992                   TAG: 9202130368
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: ABINGDON                                LENGTH: Short
BURLEY GROWERS GET REFERENDUM ON QUOTA LEASES
Burley tobacco growers will vote by mail referendum between Feb. 24-27 on whether Virginia will allow leasing of tobacco quotas across county lines.
"If the cross-county leasing provision is approved, Virginia will become the second burley-producing state in which growers will enjoy cross-country leasing privileges," said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, who introduced legislation leading to the referendum. The other state was Tennessee.
"The favorable experience of Tennessee growers with the leasing provision formed the basis of my proposal for the Virginia referendum," he said.
Boucher said only those farmers qualified to participate in the current leasing program would be able to take part in this one.
He said there would be no restriction limiting the leasing to adjoining counties.
The government authorizes quotas for growers in return for the growers being able to sell at government-supported prices.
Growers will receive ballots in the mail to vote for or against extending leases across county lines. The referendum will be conducted at the same time as another mail referendum on whether marketing quotas on a poundage basis will continue for burley tobacco for the next three years.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB