The Cotton and Tobacco Program provides tobacco grading services on harvested tobacco submitted for potential Risk Management Agency (RMA) crop insurance quality-loss adjustments. This partnership is between the Agricultural Marketing Service, Risk Management Agency and a third-party cooperative seeking to coordinate and authenticate tobacco producers’ insurance claims.
C&T’s role is to provide unbiased, third-party grading on tobacco submitted for potential RMA crop insurance quality-loss adjustments, and are offered to producers, companies, and researchers on a voluntary basis. Tobacco grades are used as the final determination for quality on the product. This quality grade translates into a value of the crop, allowing the producer to apply a quantifiable value to a loss. RMA then uses this information to support or deny the producer’s loss insurance claim.
Tobacco Pesticide Testing
The Cotton and Tobacco (C&T) Program’s Grading Division collects samples, upon request from customers, for pesticide residue testing by the AMS Science and Technology Program.
Contact Info:
USDA AMS Cotton and Tobacco Program
Tobacco Field Operations
Ray Scroggins, Asst. to the Grading Division Director
3275 Appling Road
Memphis, TN 38133
Phone: (901)-384-3010
Email: Ray.Scroggins@usda.gov or tobaccogradingprogram@usda.gov