Phase II Tobacco Board Announces 2002 Payment & Work Sessions

RICHMOND (September 20, 2002) -- The Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, Inc. (Phase II) announced today a series of work sessions for tobacco growers and quota holders who have questions about how to complete their 2002 Phase II forms.

McGuireWoods LLP, the board's legal counsel, will be on hand to work one on one with applicants. Meetings will be held September 26 and 27 in Farm Service Agency offices in Pittsylvania and Halifax counties.

Phase II is the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust that was negotiated between the tobacco growing states and cigarette manufacturers. More than $60 million was distributed to Virginia tobacco producers and quota owners in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

All quota owners and producers who have received either a Phase II payment or a Phase I payment will only need to complete a verification form for payment this year. The form will be mailed directly to the payee. Farmers will not have to sign a W-9 certification this year unless they neglected to do so in the past or corrections need to be made. Those farm operators who did not apply for either Phase II or Phase I payments will receive an application and will be responsible for verifying data and obtaining the signatures of quota owners and producers associated with the farm.

Completed forms must be postmarked by October 21 and payment to farmers is projected for late December 2002 or early January 2003. There will be no deadline extension or second round for applications. If an applicant needs assistance but is unable to attend a work session they may call the settlement trustee's hotline at 1-800-736-7197 during normal business hours.

The work session schedule is as follows: