Preliminary results of a U.S. Department of Agriculture referendum show that a majority of Florida and Georgia tobacco producers have approved the sale of flue-cured tobacco quota across county lines within the two states.

The referendum, which was held Oct. 15-19, applies to 2002 and subsequent crop-year tobacco.

Sales of flue-cured tobacco quota from one farm to another across county lines is permitted by the Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2000, if a majority of active tobacco producers approve of it in a referendum.

The results of the recent referendum show that 83 percent of Florida producers voted yes while 25 percent voted no, resulting in a 76.8 percent approval. Meanwhile, 363 Georgia producers voted yes with 84 voting no, resulting in an 81.2 percent approval.