The Augusta Courier

South Georgia's Tobacco Markets Draw Folks, Cash

ATLANTA — As another tobacco selling season is being written into the records, the Georgia Department of Commerce carries an interesting and timely story on the state's "miracle crop" in its current Newsletter, just released by Secretary Clark Gaines. Accompanied by a three-quarter-page photograph, it is the lead story in the enlarged Newsletter, which has been increased from four to eight pages.

Tobacco auctions have become traditional in South Georgia in the past 35 years.

In late summer each year they attract thousands of people - - sellers, buyers, auctioneers and others who come just to see the great show - - and millions of dollars that go into the growers pockets. Here is how the Commerce Department describes it:

"The six months' work that began last December with the planting of the seed beds is being rewarded now with a flow of cash. The sum of $65-million is expected to pour into fifty South Georgia counties.

Tobacco is a cash crop. When the auctioneer 'knocks it down' to the highest bidder and the price is put on the identification tag, payment soon follows. The farmer brings the leaf to town in the morning, or maybe a few days before the sale, and returns home with his money . . .

All members of the family share in spending the well-earned cash for the crop in the production of which all have taken a part."

Just how much the total crop will bring this year will not be known until the last market closes, but sales were being held in 19 cities and in approximately 75 warehouses. The crop this year is estimated at about 20 per cent below last year's because of the drought, but the price is expected to hold to last year's level.

Last year 155,053,010 pounds were sold for a total of $70,859,760 at Georgia markets, or an average of 45.70 cents a pound.

Georgia-grown brought $64-million.