The future of tobacco marketing and the outlook for tobacco farmers in 2001 will be lead topics at the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corp.’s annual District 8 meeting in Raleigh.

The meeting is set for 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Kerr Scott Building on the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

“How contracting will affect the tobacco auction system will be a major topic, along with the outlook for tobacco farmers in crop year 2001 and beyond,” said District 8 Director Richard J. Jenks. “We’ll also be talking about the tobacco program as it applies to individual farmers and its importance to the industry.”

Representatives of Stabilization, Tobacco Associates Inc. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Tobacco Division will present data from the 2000 tobacco season and projections for the 2001 season. “Comments and discussion will be welcomed,” Jenks said.

A brief business session will be held immediately after the regular meeting, to elect the director to represent the district on Stabilization’s Board of Directors for the next three years. Advisory Committee members from each of the flue-cured producing counties in District 8 will also be selected.

Stabilization’s District 8 includes Chatham, Durham, Granville, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.

“Our marketing system could be very different in the future,” said Lioniel S. Edwards, Stabilization general manager. “It is important that flue-cured tobacco farmers attend this meeting. The tobacco farmers own this cooperative, and they are our reason for being. Input from our farmer-members would be greatly appreciated during the meeting.”