Watauga Democrat

BURLEY GROWERS TO SIGN CONTRACT

District Extension Agent McCrary Reports Progress in Western Carolina. Many Meetings Held With Farmers. Baird to Handle Contracts in Watauga and Avery Counties. County Agents Helpful.

Approximately 90 per cent. of the Burley tobacco growers in Western North Carolina are expected to sign acreage reduction contracts in the near future, according to O. F. McCrary, district extension agent at State College, Raleigh.

Mr. McCrary, who recently returned to the Capital city from a trip to the western part of the State, said that the only thing standing in the way of a rapid sign-up is the lack of facilities for explaining the contracts to the growers.

Many of the Burley growers have less than a quarter-acre in tobacco cultivation, he said. He pointed out that a grower with one-eighth of an acre in cultivation, producing at an average rate of 900 pounds to the acre, would receive approximately $2.90 for reducing one-third, or $4.70 if he reduces one-half.

While in the Burley section, he held a number of county and community meetings to explain the contracts to leading growers. He also assisted the county agents iron out various difficulties and authorized agents to help growers in counties which have no agent of their own.

C. B. Baird, Avery County agent, will probably sign contracts for farmers in Mitchell and Watauga counties. E. D. Bowditch, former Clay County agent now residing in Mitchell, will assist Mr. Baird with the campaign.