This morning at 8:00 a.m. the Halifax FSA office will begin accepting applications for TLAP-2000 payments from tobacco owners and producers.
TLAP-2000 payments were approved by Congress to help defray the losses of quota from 1999 to 2000. All flue-cured, dark fire-cured, and burley quota owners and producers are eligible for payment.
Applications are available at the FSA office and on the Internet at the website www.fsa.usda.gov. Simply click on the "Agricultural Programs," then click on "FSA Forms Online," then enter "CCC" as the form prefix and "950" as the form number. Producers and quota owners who have Internet access are encouraged to print themselves an application, complete it, and mail or deliver it to the FSA Office. All applications will be accepted through September 1. Applications WILL NOT be accepted after September 1.
FSA is expecting many visitors to the office during this application period. In order to serve everyone without major delays, FSA is asking all owners and producers to use the following schedule:
Mondays: producers and owners who have Alton, Danville, Roxboro, N.C., Cluster Springs, Buffalo Junction or Virgilina addresses.
Tuesdays: producers and owners who have South Boston, Sutherlin, Ringgold or Halifax addresses.
Wednesdays: producers and owners who have Scottsburg, Clover, Saxe, Crystal Hill, Vernon Hill or Java addresses.
Thursdays: producers and owners who have Nathalie, Brookneal, Long Island or Gretna addresses.
Fridays: all other addresses.
Quota owners or producers who do not sign an application will not be eligible for payment, however this will not affect other owners and/or producers on the same farm who have completed their applications.
The payment rates have not yet been released, but payments will be made some time between October 1 and October 20.
If you have questions about the TLAP payments, please call or visit the FSA office.

Double "Cheaper By the Dozen," and you have Bob and Addie Ann Monettes' bustling 25-child family.
"We just take one day at a time," said the busy mother.
The kids' dad, successful entrepreneur Bob Monette, agrees.
"It's a lot quieter than you would expect with that many children," he said with a chuckle.
With 25 children between the ages of six months and 29 years, organization is the name of the game in this happening household.
Cheerleaders, athletes, musicians, college students, middle and elementary school kids and a baby, make up the whole.
"It is a great life," said Addie Monette with a chuckle.
It is also a life the couple chose.
The Monettes, with three birth children of their own, adopted the rest of their family.
"We wanted more children," Addie Ann said. "But I had terrible pregnancies."
The couple would adopt their first daughter, a Korean girl named Lindsay.
"She has always been organized. I think she was born 30 years old," her mother said during a telephone interview last week.
Lindsay, now a college student in the Atlanta area, is described by her mother as "very" organized and a pivotal player in household organization.
First daughter Lindsay was later joined by a Korean boy the couple adopted.
Since then, the Monettes have adopted U.S.-born children, sometimes in multiples.
Last year, four young sisters joined the family.
What is the most difficult part of daily life in a family of 25?
"Trying to be fair and not take sides. Listening to everyone ...and being patient," said Addie Ann.
"Pretty much, everything runs smoothly. We have very few squabbles."
They also count on each other, taking care of daily needs without household help.
"The big ones do help the little ones," said Addie Ann. And, Anne-Pryor, 15, also "cooks a lot and helps."
In a family that buys over 130 pairs of shoes annually, eats 55-60 fried chicken legs and thighs at a single setting and orders up to eight large pizzas at a time, it is easy to get lost in the simple statistics of daily living.
But the Monettes do not see it that way.
"We're just a regular family," said Addie Ann. "There's just more of us."
Married 31 years, this high-energy couple still "enjoy being together" very much, said Addie Ann. "We have a lot of fun. "The movies, having dinner ...and waiting up for someone coming in from a date."
Finances
Bob, an engineer who owns Operations Technology, is on the cutting edge in his field.
"Now cities are looking at out-sourcing for management of their water systems, waste water treatment and public works," he explained.
His company provides professional management of municipal public works and waste water entities for cities, state facilities and at least one military installation. His clients are located throughout the South and in the eastern United States.
Several of his children are currently working with him.
A House Full of Love
The Monettes' attitude about children not only touches the heart, it changes lives.
In the early 1970s, the couple started helping with abuse and child neglect cases whose victims were put in foster care.
"And that was where they ended up," recalled Bob. "They seemed to be the forgotten children. We were concerned about the children being shuffled off with no feeling of permanence."
It was a concern that tugged at their hearts.
"All of these faces are waiting to be adopted," stressed Addie Ann, including sibling groups of two, three and four.
"I wish that more people knew that these children were available for adoption." she added. "It is okay.
"All kids have problems, but the good days way outweigh the days that aren't so good.
"They are thriving, growing. They love each other and we love them," said Addie Ann, punctuating the sentence a cheerful laugh.
" You make the time to do what is important to you. I have never been sorry ...," she emphasized.
"You can get involved with adopting the older children and have a very positive experience," Bob said. "You don't have to get a three-week old.
"When you sit up all night with a sick child, by 4 a.m., they are yours," he said.
"We have average kids with great personalities who have a lot of friends," observed Addie Ann.
Into The Future
"I don't spend a lot of time worrying about how we are going to finance their college education," said Bob.
"We have four in college now and two have graduated," he added. "One is working on an MBA at night."
During his college days, Bob said his mother helped him, but that he also worked.
"Our kids have no problem with that. They are supposed to put out some effort. They work in the summer," he added.
One of their sons is currently on a full track and field scholarship at a private college in Tennessee.
One of the girls has an academic scholarship, a cheerleader scholarship and also works. She attends a Methodist-supported college in north Georgia.
"Bob is a great guy. He makes sure that we have all the shoes and pancakes we can eat," said Addie Anne. "He is very supportive and a great dad."
Four children in braces, four in college, "having birthdays constantly," dance lessons and vacations are added into the Monettes' budgeting equation.
But their life also features packing at least one Methodist church pew with children each Sunday, helping the older children plan their college education, listening to problems, as well as triumphs great and small, and giving each child a sense of family permanence. In their own words: "It is a great life."

TJune unemployment figures for Halifax County were 8.5 percent, up slightly from the 8.3 figure recorded in May.
Statistics provided by the Virginia Employment Commission reflected a civilian labor force of 20,140, an increase from 19,696 in May.
The number of unemployed workers rose to 1,719 in June from 1,628 in May.
Virginia's overall unemployment rate for June stood at 2.9 percent, up from 2.5 percent in May.
Virginia's civilian labor force increased by about 40,000 workers in June to about 3.7 million.
The increase may be in part due to students entering the workforce to look for summer jobs.
Among neighboring counties, Mecklenburg showed a large increase to 8.1 percent unemployment in June from 4.5 in May.
Charlotte County's unemployment rate also rose, to 4.7 percent in June from 3.6 in May.
Pittsylvania County's rate rose from 5 to 5.3 percent for the month of June, while the city of Danville's unemployment rate went from 8.5 to 9.6 percent in June.
Combined, the Danville and Pittsylvania county unemployment rate for June was 7.2 percent.

After several years of trying, the Virginia entry in the Dixie Majors World Series has finally gotten a win.
And, it came courtesy of the Virginian champion South Boston Dixie Majors all star team.
South Boston won its opening game of the Dixie Majors World Series, downing host Euless, Tex. 5-4.
"It was great," said South Boston manager David Myers.
"Everybody down here from South Boston is real excited. I'm proud of the kids. They did a great job."
The win put South Boston in the winner's bracket and left them to face Louisiana last night. Louisiana downed Alabama 9-4.
If South Boston won its game last night, it will receive a bye today and would not play again until Tuesday.
"A win would be great," Myers said.
"It would be real nice if we could get the bye and not have to play again until Tuesday."
South Boston came up with eight hits in the game, three from Brent Myers who was three for four with two doubles.
Brian Medley was two for four for the night with one of his hits being a two-run homer.
Antwain Ferrell was one for three at the plate with his hit being a two -run homer and Geoff Moore was one for three at the plate with one RBI.
While South Boston's bats, Ferrell's included, played a key role in the win, it was a pair of defensive plays, one by Justin Shepperd and one by Ferrell, that sealed South Boston's win.
South Boston held a 5-3 lead over the World Series host entering the seventh inning.
Shepperd started the heroics by making a tough diving catch of a ball hit into the gap in left centerfield to get a critical first out for hurler Scott Adams.
The host team's number nine hitter in the lineup and the leadoff batter in the lineup both walked to put two runners on the sacks with one out.
Euless' second batter doubled to score a run and make the score 5-4.
Then came Ferrell's turn to step up.
The next batter for Euless hit a high fly ball down the first base line that started out in foul territory.
Ferrell attempted to chase down the ball but the brisk breeze that was blowing blew the ball over into fair territory.
The South Boston first baseman made a dramatic difficult catch of the floating ball for the second out.
Attempting to score what would be the tying run, the Euless runner on third base tagged up and darted for the plate.
Ferrell launched a rocket of a throw to catcher Brian Lloyd at the plate and Lloyd nailed the runner for the final out to retire the side and preserve the win.
"That was a tremendous play," Myers said.
"The wind blew the ball at least 25 or 30 feet. Antwain made a heck of a catch and throw to get the runner."
South Boston took the early lead in the game when Myers came up with a double with one out and scored on a single by Moore to make the score 1-0.
Ferrell's two-run homer in the third inning gave South Boston a 3-0 cushion.
Euless scored an unearned run in the third inning and added two more unearned runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the fifth inning, Lloyd walked to kick off the inning and scored on Medley's two-run homer that lifted South Boston to a 5-3 lead.
That set the stage for the dramatic last inning in which South Boston pulled off two great defensive plays to preserve the win.

Bessie Edmonds Leigh, 70, of Jacksonville, Fla., formerly of Halifax County, died July 24 at Methodist Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville.
Mrs. Leigh was born in Halifax County on July 9, 1930.
Survivors include two sisters, Linda Owen of Jacksonville and Beatrice Woodall of Halifax; and one brother, Willis Edmonds.
Funeral services for Mrs. Leigh were held July 29 at 11 a.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church in Vernon Hill with the Rev. Roger Ford officiating.

Gaynell Carr, age 95, of Philadelphia, Pa., died July 16 in Philadelphia.
She was born in Halifax County on June 10, 1905.
Survivors include one daughter, Louise Hill of Camden, N.J.; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held July 28 at 2 p.m. at Sunflower Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Robert Tucker officiating.

Ellen Owen Bowes Hall, 68, of 104 School Street, Roxboro, N.C, died July 29 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Hall was born in Person County to Jenny Bet Vicks and Golden Cornelius Bowes Sr. and was a member of North Roxboro Baptist Church.
Her survivors include her daughter: Nancy Esparza; grandson: A.J. Dickie, Jr. of Cary, N.C.; two great-grandchildren: Kyle and Taylor Dickie; four brothers: Jesse Bowes Sr. of Roxboro, Roy Edward Bowes of Louisa County, James Bowes and Golden Bowes, Jr. of Alton; three sisters: Lessie Bowes of Alton, Edith Bowes of Roxboro and Margie Wilburn of Brentwood, Tn.
Ms. Hall was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Doris Victoria Smith and Mary Alice Bowes and a daughter: JoAnn Smith.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 1 at the Brooks & White Chapel.

The family will receive friends tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. at Brooks & White Funeral Home and at other times at the home of her brother, Jesse Bowes., 2587 Chub Lake Rd., Roxboro.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Person County Unit, P.O. Box 165, Roxboro.