Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2009-10-11
Author: Associated Press
Intro: Missouri farmers report they're struggling to sell tobacco after Philip Morris stopped purchasing the crops last year.
Farmers told the St. Joseph News-Press that they're unsure where to sell the tobacco and might have to seek buyers across state lines. That will likely increase costs.
Last year, tobacco mogul Philip Morris USA announced it would no longer purchase Missouri tobacco.
Louis Smither, co-owner of the New Deal Tobacco Warehouse, said smoking bans, campaigns to cut tobacco use and increased cigarette taxes have lowered demand.
"Those are the causes, and this is the effect -- the small tobacco farmer suffers," Smither said. "We knew about Philip Morris about a year ago, and we still don't know where we're going to be sending our tobacco. This'll be an awkward and strange undertaking."
Smither said small farmers are being pinched.
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