1.   Any excess tobacco is purchased by farmer support cooperatives supported by growers, ensuring no direct costs to the federal government from the program.

2.   But he and other officials said many inmates who entered prison as smokers have already quit, because they cannot afford to purchase tobacco.

3.   If the market price falls below the support level, tobacco is purchased and stored by tobacco cooperatives using money lent by the government.

4.   It also set up a loan program that provides money for farmer cooperatives to purchase tobacco when prices are low and then sell it later as prices rebound.

5.   Tobacco leaf dealers purchase tobacco from farmers, process it and store it for sale to cigarette companies or makers of other processed tobacco products.

6.   Unlike marijuana or other traditional contraband, tobacco can be purchased legally.