The tobacco buyout is in the forefront for farmers in the
Southeast. Far from a done deal, the tobacco buyout is, however,
the closest that it's been to reality.  As Congress recessed for
the August break, the Senate and House had both passed
legislation that included a tobacco buyout. The two bills differ
substantially and will be resolved in conference committee. In
his tobacco buyout update, North Carolina State University
Extension Ag Economist Blake Brown points out that “resolution
could include modification or even elimination of various
provisions, including the tobacco buyout, attached to the bill.”
The buyout was part of a corporate tax bill to repeal an export
tax rebate given certain businesses in earlier legislation. The
export tax rebate given had been declared illegal by the World
Trade Organization and tariffs are being levied against exports
of certain U.S. goods. The bill contains numerous other
provisions, including an earlier energy bill.  The Senate
version of the buyout is $8 and $4 on