May 24, 2013
Under the terms of the new farm bill, the government is buying out the quota that guaranteed some farmers higher prices for their peanuts.
Letters to Houston County's approximately 2,000 quota holders were mailed in early September. About 1,200 have signed up for the buy out program so far.
Houston County Farm Service Agency Director Jerry Armstrong said most farmers are opting for a one time, lump sum payment of 55 cents per pound.
The deadline to sign up is Nov. 22, but the first checks to those already enrolled could go out next week.
More than $170 million in buy-out payments will go to quota holders in Alabama.
Peanut farmers in Houston County will receive more than $32 million of that amount.
