Hornback, who also is a grain and tobacco grower, said the tobacco -- except for plants set recently -- is OK for now. Without considerable rain in the next three weeks, there could be significant grain crop losses, he said. The lack of serious rain in Kentucky has farmers worried about their crops and water systems in danger of running short. Drought dogs Kentucky farmers Rain needed soon to stem crop loss. Hornback said if it doesn't rain in the next couple weeks, crop losses could be...

INDIGENOUS agro-business dealer Farmers World has started distributing tractors and various other farming implements which it acquired from China to tobacco and other farmers throughout the country. Speaking at the programme's official launch yesterday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono said the tractors would go a long way in helping the country achieve mechanisation, stressing it was imperative that all precautionary measures be taken to ascertain the suitability of the...

A proposal to ban most workplace smoking _ including in restaurants _ passed the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday despite several members' background in tobacco farming. House Agriculture Chairman Stratton Bone, a former tobacco farmer, acknowledged that the bill that passed 12-2 "is not perfect,"but reflects a compromise needed to move the measure forward. He is no longer involved in tobacco farming. Bredesen called the bill that passed out of the Agriculture Committee a...

The somewhat radical idea comes from Citigroup, the multinational bank that helped some tobacco farmers consolidate multiyear government payments into single lump-sums after the 2004 tobacco buyout. A voluntary buyout proposal comes as lawmakers face writing a farm bill in a difficult political and economic environment. Department of Agriculture estimates total payments made to the farm economy are expected to decline to 8.44 billion in 2007 from 16. Hoosier Ag Today, Exclusively committed...

Prosecutors pointed to robbery as the motive, saying Crews needed money because his tobacco crop was poor. Crews' attorneys argued that he was not hurting financially and that there was no gunshot residue on him and no blood on his hands, shoes or coveralls. Kentucky man gets 50-year sentence in tobacco warehouse slaying. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Maddox was shot in the back and beaten. Crews will be eligible for parole in 17....

By Arijit Ghosh and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Bloomberg News Published: June 6, 2007 E-Mail Article Listen to Article Printer-Friendly 3-Column Format Translate Share Article Text Size JAKARTA: Indonesia's 542 parliamentarians are dividing along new party lines: smokers versus nonsmokers. By Arijit Ghosh and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Bloomberg News Published: June 6, 2007 E-Mail Article Listen to Article Printer-Friendly 3-Column Format Translate Share Article Text Size JAKARTA: Indonesia's 542...