``Farmer'' includes the employees of a farmer. It does not include
an employer merely because he employs a farmer or appoints a farmer as
his agent to do the actual work. Thus, the stripping of tobacco, i.e.,
removing leaves from the stalk, by the employees of an independent
warehouse is not a practice performed ``by a farmer'' even though the
warehouse acts as agent for the tobacco farmer or employs the farmer in
the stripping operations. One who merely performs services or supplies
materials for farmers in return for compensation in money or farm
products is not a ``farmer.'' Thus, a person who provides credit and
management services to farmers cannot qualify as a ``farmer'' on that
account. Neither can a repairman who repairs and services farm machinery
qualify as a ``farmer'' on that basis. Where crops are grown under
contract with a person who provides a market, contributes counsel and
advice, make advances and otherwise assists the grower who actually
produces the crop, it is the grower and not the person with whom he
contracts who is the farmer with respect to that crop (Mitchell v.
Huntsville Nurseries, 267 F. 2d 286).
