For Immediate Release
October 1, 2002
Contact: John-Mark Hack (502) 564-4627

Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation Delivers 2002 Phase II Payment Registers

The Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation delivered today the payment registers for the National Tobacco Growers Settlement Trust to each Farm Service Agency and University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension office across the Commonwealth.

This payment register is for crop years 1998 - 2001 and is listed by farm serial number. The crop year 2001 basic quota owners includes those applications that were postmarked by the September 16, 2002 deadline. If an individual or entity sent in their application after this date, then they should call 1-877-549-2537 to ensure that their application has been received.

Individuals scheduled to receive payments for the land and labor components, referred to respectively as the Growing Farm and Grower/Tenant, are listed on the payment register for their production activity in the years 1998, 1999, and 2000.

The Trust was established as a 12-year program by cigarette manufacturers to offset income losses incurred by tobacco growers as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement, the $246 billion deal between major cigarette manufacturers and 46 state attorneys general. 2002 represents the fourth year of the Trust Fund. This year Kentucky’s estimated share of the Trust is $130 million dollars, which represent the largest distribution to date since the inception of the Trust. On November 15, 2002 the National Trustee will inform the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation of the exact amount available for distribution this year.

During the first three years of the Trust, the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation has facilitated over $328 million in direct cash payment to Kentucky’s tobacco farm families.

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