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  • Tobacco Associates Hosting 79th Annual Meeting March 6

    Tobacco Associates Hosting 79th Annual Meeting March 6

    Tobacco Associates will hold its 79th Annual Meeting on March 6, at the Wilson County Agricultural Center, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by lunch. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Bale: Building Value through Partnership,” will emphasize the importance of collaboration in strengthening export promotion efforts and expanding global opportunities for U.S. flue-cured tobacco.

    The program will feature remarks from Scott Sink, president of the Virginia Farm Bureau; Kristi Boswell, agriculture regulatory counsel at Alston & Bird, who will provide updates on H-2A AEWR litigation; Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, Hugh C. Kiger Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University, discussing planting considerations and economic outlooks; Scott Gupton, Country manager at Alliance One International, presenting the global flue-cured outlook; and Kimberly Foley, executive director of TA, delivering the association’s annual export promotion report. Staff members representing members of Congress and candidates are also expected to speak.

    TA’s programs are designed to stimulate export demand for all U.S.-produced flue-cured tobacco. Attendees are asked to confirm participation by March 3.

  • U.S. Tobacco Groups Urge Targeted Relief Amid Export Downturn

    U.S. Tobacco Groups Urge Targeted Relief Amid Export Downturn

    Fourteen U.S. agricultural and tobacco-sector organizations sent joint letters to President Donald Trump, Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Secretary Scott Bessent thanking the Administration for expressing willingness to support flue-cured tobacco farmers facing severe trade disruptions. The letters highlighted urgent challenges, including a 20–25% drop in exports, 15–20% decline in farm-gate prices, and shrinking demand from key markets like China. Rising input costs are also adding financial pressure as growers plan for 2026.

    “On May 29th, China wrote to the U.S. leaf merchants that it would not honor its purchase as much as 60 million pounds of flue-cured leaf in 2025. This exit resulted in adverse impacts on prices and values as the season progressed. The surplus created a soft demand that caused a market downturn of 27 cents per pound on average.”

    While the Administration recently announced the $12 billion Farm Bridge Assistance Program, tobacco is currently excluded. The coalition urged targeted relief, citing precedent from the first Trump Administration when tobacco was included in market facilitation programs. The groups emphasized the risk of lost family farms and the need for prompt inclusion of tobacco in relief measures.

    Tobacco Associates disseminated the letters to industry members and encouraged growers to contact local, state, and federal representatives to share personal experiences and the real impact of the downturn, stressing that these voices carry significant weight in shaping policy responses.

    The Honorable Donald J Trump_Tobacco TradeDownload
    Letter to USDA + Treasury – Tobacco TradeDownload

  • Hank Mozingo, Retired Tobacco Associates President, Passes Away at 57

    Hank Mozingo, Retired Tobacco Associates President, Passes Away at 57

    Henry “Hank” Mozingo, the esteemed retired president of Tobacco Associates, Inc., and a respected figure in the U.S. flue-cured tobacco industry, passed away. His passing was announced by Corporate Secretary Veronica Martins and the Tobacco Associates Board of Directors, expressing deep sadness at the loss of a leader who left an indelible mark on the organization and the livelihoods of U.S. growers.

    Mozingo’s career with Tobacco Associates spanned over three decades, beginning in 1990 with his first trip to Korea. He dedicated himself to expanding markets for U.S. flue-cured tobacco, fostering relationships with industry leaders, and promoting the quality of American leaf globally. His vision led to the development of new brands in several countries, including “Türkiye”, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Hungary, Jerusalem, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Notably, Mozingo was the first U.S. tobacco official to visit VINATABA after the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam relations in 1995.

    Mozingo is remembered by colleagues as a gentle, honorable, and unwavering individual who treated those he worked with as family.

    A Celebration of Life will be held  August 10, at 3 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 134 S Peace Haven Rd, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made via the family’s GoFundMe, which will support the local Humane Society and establish a scholarship in Mozingo’s name at his alma mater, James Madison University.