As a native Kentuckian and someone who grew up around farming, I take a keen interest in the fate of our farms. Kentucky’s agricultural industry, long dependent on tobacco, has changed dramatically in the last 11 years. The number of farms growing burley tobacco has reduced by nearly 90% since 1997. Most of these are small, family-run operations and this has radically changed the face of Kentucky’s farming culture.
As a product, I am tempted to dislike tobacco because it has killed so many people. But as a part of our culture here, it is hard as a Kentuckian to not drive by a healthy tobacco field and not feel a certain amount of pride. And I’m not even a grower. Imagine how hard that choice would be for a 3rd or 4th generation tobacco farmer?
Kentucky’s geography made tobacco a perfect fit when growing first began over 200 years ago. The lack of large open prairie meant that farmers could not hope to profit off crops that require a huge yield in order to pay off. They needed a crop that would have a high-dollar value per acre. Tobacco was the crop that enabled them to tend small farms and still make a decent living.
After the tobacco settlements of the 1990′s and the buyout plans offered by the federal government, the return on a few acres of tobacco were no longer enough to support a family. The choice became one of growing more, diversification, or leaving the industry completely. Kentucky farmers have done all three.
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