Martinsville Bulletin

Axton farmer Darrell Jackson told 5th District U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt on Friday that he grows taxes, not tobacco.

Hurt, R-Chatham, stopped by Jackson’s tobacco-growing operation during his farm tour Friday.

Jackson told him that several federal regulations were hurting his business, including adverse wage requirements, the big difference in the price of burley and flue-cured tobacco and excise taxes.

For instance, Jackson said he is paid about $1,500 per 700 pound bale of tobacco.

The bale will make about 400,000 cigarettes, roughly 571 cigarettes per pound, which is about 20,000 packs, he said.

The federal excise tax per pack is $1.01, or about $20,200 per 20,000 packs, he said, and noted the Obama administration increased that tax in 2009, from the previous 39 cents to its current level.

“Off of one bale, the federal government makes $20,200,” Jackson said.

“I grow taxes. I don’t grow tobacco,” he said.

Jackson said the average state excise tax is $1.49, or $29,800 per 20,000 packs, and the average local excise tax is 83 cents and $16,600 for the same 20,000 packs.

That is a total of $66,600 in excise taxes, Jackson said. The one bale of tobacco is worth “nearly $70,000 in taxes,” he added.

“That is amazing,” said Hurt, who is seeking re-election Nov. 6.

“It is an amazing situation when you sit down and run the numbers,” Jackson said.

He also congratulated Hurt on his recent award from the Farm Bureau as a “Friends of Farm Bureau.”

“It is an honor to be able to receive that award,” Hurt said. “I love being able to represent the people” in the 5th District.

Jackson said Hurt “has been a friend of ours for many years, and I’m sure he will continue to be a friend of agriculture.”

Hurt grew up in Chatham, not far from Jackson’s farm. As a young man, he said he spent two summers working for a tobacco farmer “and really loved that experience.”

From that personal perspective, Hurt said he realizes how important tobacco and agriculture is to Southside Virginia.

However, “it reminds me of how disconnected Washington has become with the people,” he said, and noted that additional requirements and taxes “at the end of the day, kill jobs.”

Hurt said he has worked with the Farm Bureau on proposed legislation such as the farm dust bill, which was prepared after an inspection at a sawmilling operation in Brunswick County.

The inspector told the mill owner that “everything looks fine except you’ve got fugitive dust emissions,” Hurt said of the bill that was prompted by the dust from tractor-trailers coming to and from the mill.

He said he worked with the Farm Bureau to amend that bill.

The pay and other requirements for migrant workers also are concerns, Jackson said.

He added that in three years, the hourly wages he must pay have increased from $7.25 per hour to $9.70.

Hurt said many in Washington lack common sense.

While some regulations are needed, “you’ve got to use common sense” in making regulations. Some in Washington “don’t have a clue about how to run an operation like this.”

“It’s a shame, and it’s got to change,” Hurt said. “I’m proud to work with farmers.”