I have mentioned before that I live surrounded by farm fields. Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to be working from home when the plows showed up to tend the surrounding fields. I stepped out and went across the street to talk to the farmer for a bit. We had a pleasant conversation especially about the state of farming and in particular tobacco farming in the area. I was more than excited to find out tobacco was going to be grown this year. This particular farmer has his own farm land and leases parcels. The sad part is that he has lost 20 leases in the past 18 months to development and according to him, he may not be able to continue farming for more than a few more years. My county is the largest producer of flue cured tobacco (according to 3 year old demographics) in the state and this gentleman is probably one of the last tobacco farmers in the area. So for now, I do not have houses sprouting up around me and I get to enjoy watching the tobacco grow as I have for so many years, though I fear this may be coming to an end. On a good note, I got invited to be at the curing barns when the curing process is done this year and he is letting me have some leaf. I'll post some pictures throughout the year as the crops progress.