Larry Bowling comes from the large family of Bowlings in the Maryland tobacco business. Most, including Larry Bowling, are taking the buyout, he says. "The writing's on the wall. Eleven years ago, they would have bought this tobacco crop like it was on fire, but now they're just picking through it. It's the end of an era." Bowling harvested 22 acres of tobacco on his farm in Allen Fresh last year, less than half of the 50 he used to raise. He says he will continue his work as a commercial crabber, but he isn't going to be growing any alternative crops - an idea some legislators floated. "I think the only alternative crop the farmers got is going to be houses" they sell to developers, he says.

Comments on this photo essay? E-mail Amy Silva.
 

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