BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Tobacco sales start in Kentucky on Monday in places like the King Burley Warehouse near Maysville. But tobacco no longer is paid a king's homage, even in the Bluegrass state where it's the top cash crop.
This year's sales may mean more in light of last week's $206 billion settlement with cigarette makers that is expected to reduce demand, said Scott Pope, an owner of King Burley.
"We are in an unsettled political climate," he said. "You know these people are looking at this year with a lot of interest."
In a sense, the settlement is the beginning of a new era for Kentucky's king crop. Mr. Pope expects major overhauls and changes in the industry.
"But I can't see the industry not being here in the future," Mr. Pope added. Tobacco growing is a $1-billion-a-year industry for Kentucky.
The settlement offers $993 million in payments to Kentucky over 25 years. An additional $2.4 billion is expected to be taken by the federal government for past and future payments to Kentucky's Medicaid program.
The only mention of farmers is a commitment by the cigarette companies to meet with leaders in tobacco states to develop a plan. Gov. Paul Patton, who endorsed the settlement, said farmers will need $2.2 billion more.
Boone County tobacco farmer Ronnie Vest doubts he'll see any of the settlement money - and not just because he's 64 years old. He raised about 30,000 pounds on 13 acres this year. On Monday, he'll take it to market in Carrollton. In addition to the burley, he'll take a lot of questions.
"I'd just like somebody to tell me where this settlement on this tobacco - where it's going and what it's going to be used for," he said.
He wouldn't be bothered so much if the money goes to pay health-care bills, as long as it doesn't fall into a bureaucratic abyss. Still, even though he is the son of a man who died from lung cancer, Mr. Vest has a problem with paying the health care bills of people who smoke.
The Associated Press contributed to this rerport.
