While the loss of life and homes has dominated the Macon County tornado story, the loss to area farmers and the $20-million farm economy will be even longer lasting.

The largest burley tobacco producer in the state, Macon County "will see scars (from the storm damage) for a decade, at least," said Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens during a visit to our county last Friday.

One in ten of Macon County's farms were affected by the tornado, which ripped a mile wide swath through the county, Tuesday night, February 5. More than 170 farms, some large operations, were damaged or destroyed here two weeks ago.

Preliminary estimates put the damage to Macon County's agriculture economy at nearly $30-million.

Marty Coley took perhaps the largest single hit. His home, eleven barns, and all of his tobacco greenhouses were destroyed.

The greenhouses were not insurable, and will cost Coley as much as $175,000 to replace.

Coley and several other affected farmers provide as much as 30 percent of the... tobacco sets for hundreds of smaller farms. The tobacco sets are produced hydroponically, and Coley, Bobby Jenkiins and others would normally begin to start seedlings for the 2008 crop next week.

Coley said his first priority is to re-build his greenhouses, and crews were working on replacing the frames of several large hot-houses when the Ag Commissioner visited last week.

"Our timetable gives us about a month to get everything up and growing--but we will be several weeks late in being able to provide sets for our customers who normally plant early," said Coley.