By James Hannah
The Associated Press

Roger Rhonemus grew 14 acres of tobacco on his southern Ohio farm only a few years ago. Today, he grows half as much.

Falling demand for tobacco has put the pinch on Mr. Rhonemus and Ohio's 4,000 other tobacco growers in the 22 southern Ohio counties where it is farmed.

"It's a way of life. It's part of our culture. Without tobacco, I never would have been successful in farming in Adams County," Mr. Rhonemus said. "I'm a positive person, but it's kind of dim."

An effort to help farmers survive has been under way for about 18 months. Ohio is using its share of the national settlement with tobacco companies to help tobacco growers find new ways to make a living.

State officials consider the programs a success based on the number of applications for financial assistance received - about 6,500. Some farmers have applied for more than one program.

Many of the programs are administered by the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation in Hillsboro.

Executive Director Don Branson said tobacco farmers typically operate smaller farms and are heavily dependent on the crop for income. Many have used profits to make payments on the farm or send their children to college.

"Tobacco is a crop that has been a cultural mainstay for many, many years. A lot of these people almost overnight found themselves in a situation where 60 percent of their income just left. They're struggling," Mr. Branson said. "The ones who have seen the handwriting on the wall say, `We've got to find another way to bring some income on the farm.' "

Tobacco growers who want to become more reliant on raising cattle, growing corn and soybeans, or even to move to a non-farming career are lining up for the money, proposing everything from building greenhouses to growing worms.

The money is awarded based on the proposal's possibility of success, whether it will create new jobs, how much tobacco the farmer grows and how much money is being sought.

"A lot of people are starting to take advantage of that," Mr. Rhonemus said. "It's been a help to our family."

Attending college

Mr. Rhonemus also grows corn and soybeans on his farm. The foundation will reimburse Mr. Rhonemus $2,500 for a $4,000 set of scales that he bought to save time and money in weighing his grain.

Mr. Rhonemus' wife and son have both received financial assistance from the program to attend college.

His wife, in her second year at Southern State Community College, is studying to become a medical assistant. His son is attending Ohio State, where he will graduate in agricultural education.

"It's going to be a big help in not having to pay as much in student loans," Mr. Rhonemus said.

He said he may apply for money to buy a portable sawmill, which will enable him to make money cutting lumber.

Many tobacco growers also raise cattle because tobacco is often grown on the hilly, less fertile farms of southern Ohio more suitable for grazing than growing corn or soybeans.

"This is helping right a very difficult situation," said Elizabeth Harsh, executive secretary of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association. "There's a long ways to go in terms of the devastation. But these programs are a very big step in the right direction."

So far, the fund has awarded $6.5 million to tobacco growers. Another $6 million will soon be on the way.

Under the program:

1,100 farmers received about $2.5 million to improve their livestock operations by building additional fencing and corrals.

$1.5 million went to 875 farmers to help them improve the genetic quality of their livestock herds.

$1.5 million was paid to tobacco farmers in exchange for them agreeing to maintain their property as farm land and not allowing it to be commercially developed.

Up to 500 people received a total of $1 million in educational assistance to pursue careers that enable them to be not as dependent upon tobacco farming.

1,400 farmers have been approved to receive $1.5 million to improve soil fertility.

$2.5 million is on its way to 1,500 farmers to improve their grain operations by building bins or buying new equipment; money also includes a second wave of funding to help buy new fencing for livestock.

Also, more than 200 farmers have applied for $2 million from the diversification program to do such things as build greenhouses or raise worms.