News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

March 21, 2005

                                       Contact: Sara Lang
                                       Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Hosts Farmer Forums

RALEIGH - With sign-ups for the tobacco buyout now underway, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) announced today that he will hold a series of Farmer Forums to hear from farmers about their needs and concerns in the changing North Carolina agriculture economy. For decades, many North Carolina farm families depended on tobacco to pay the bills. With the enactment of the tobacco buyout, now farmers and rural communities are facing unprecedented change.

"For many years, North Carolina farmers pleaded for a tobacco buyout," Etheridge said. "Last year, Congress finally delivered. The tobacco buyout has brought change and opportunity to our state and to our rural communities. Now our farmers are looking to move into other crops, to retire or to restructure their operations to meet the demands of the post-buyout tobacco economy. I look forward to hearing from our farm families about the help that Congress can give them in this new environment. I will keep fighting for North Carolina's farm families and rural communities."

Etheridge will meet with farmers in Johnston, Franklin, Nash, Harnett, Lee and Chatham counties between March 29th and April 5th. Etheridge will hear from farmers what he can do in Congress to better help them succeed during this time of transition and will discuss the early progress on the next farm bill.

Etheridge's Farmer Forums are open to the public. If individuals would like to attend, they should RSVP to Jason Sulham in Etheridge's Raleigh office at 1-888-262-6202.

Farmer Forum Dates & Locations

Johnston County
Tuesday, March 29th at 6 p.m.
Johnston Co. Farm Bureau
1809 South Brightleaf Blvd.
Smithfield, NC
http://www.ncfb.com/counties/countyProfile.cfm?countyID=51

Franklin & Nash Counties
Wednesday, March 30th at 6 p.m.
Franklin Co. Cooperative Extension Center
103 South Bickett Blvd.
Louisburg, NC
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/franklin/

Lee & Chatham Counties
Monday, April 4th at 4 p.m.
Lee Co. Cooperative Extension Center
2420 Tramway Road
Sanford, NC
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/lee/

Harnett County
Tuesday, April 5th at 7 a.m.
Howard's Barbecue
100 South Main Street
Lillington, NC

   
   
   
   

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