Governor Provides Tobacco Growers Help line and Other Assistance

For Immediate Release
August 27, 1999
Contact: Melissa Forsythe or Mark Pfeiffer or
John-Mark Hack at (502) 564-2611

Governor Provides Tobacco Growers Help line and Other Assistance

Frankfort, Ky. - Several forms of assistance to tobacco producers eligible to apply for compensation from the National Tobacco Growers Settlement Trust will soon be available including a toll-free help line, Governor Patton announced today.

Starting Monday, August 30^th, tobacco growers can call a toll-free number, 888-366-8698 and get a recorded message of general information about eligibility and the application process. Beginning September 13^th, the toll-free line will be staffed by trained state government personnel to assist with the application process and provide other general information. On-line assistance will be available beginning September 3^rd at www.kytobaccotrust.ky.us.

The help is being offered as a way of insuring proper completion of the application forms the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation will use to gather data on the 180,000 people it expects to apply for compensation from the trust fund.

Growers can also go to their local county extension agent or farm service agency for help. County extension agents and USDA personnel have received special training to assist tobacco quota owners and growers in the completion of the application and in understanding the application instructions.

Informational brochures will become available by September 3^rd at extension offices, the Farm Service Agency, the Kentucky Farm Bureau and other farm-related organizations and businesses. Other information will be found in farm publications and newsletters from tobacco-related groups.

Meanwhile, applications for compensation will be mailed out to growers a little later than originally expected. Because of a technical legal issue connected to the passage of a new law allowing USDA to share tobacco production and marketing information with the state Corporation, applications will now be mailed on September 17^th. The completed applications are due to be returned to the Corporation post-marked no later than October 8^th. It is still expected that payments will be made to growers and quota owners directly from the national trustee by December 31, 1999.

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