The Lewis Farm in Owings, Maryland, begins its tobacco harvest season.
A tobacco leaf lies on the soil after plants are harvested on the farm in September. Tobacco has been grown on the Lewis Farm for more than 60 years and still requires being harvested by hand. Starting next month, the remaining tobacco growers in the U.S. will be forced to compete in the open market and will stop getting buyout checks from cigarette makers to compensate them for surrendering their quotas.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Farmworker Tracy Creek cuts off tobacco leaves so they can be hung and dried at the Lewis Farm. Most farms in Maryland have stopped growing tobacco due to the state's buyout program.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Homemade axes are used to cut tobacco on the farm.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Farmworker James Brown cuts off tobacco leaves so they can be hung and dried in a barn.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
