Latest news with #TraceyMann
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tell Kansas' senators not to give ultra-wealthy a ‘Big Beautiful' tax loophole
'I want a big beautiful yacht! Sell that $10 million stock I bought for $6 million — woo hoo! What? You want me to donate it to a private school voucher program? Nope, I don't believe in those. A tax loophole? OK, well, donate it to children's cancer research instead. What do you mean that won't work?' How's that for a fun new federal tax scam to help the super-wealthy? 'Donate' $10 million in stock to charity, purchased for $6 million — then get all $10 million back in tax credits and avoid more than $1 million in capital gains taxes. Massive benefits for already rich individuals — you gotta love it. And it's all created by House Resolution 1 in Congress — the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Kansas Reps. Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt all voted yes for it. Who benefits from these 'donations'? Farmers devastated by drought? Disabled veterans? Your cherished cause? No. At best, you net a maximum tax benefit of 35 cents per dollar. Donating that $10 million to any other cause would likely net a just $3.5 million tax benefit, not enough for that $10 million yacht. The 'dollar for dollar plus' tax scheme was cooked up for nonprofits known as Scholarship Granting Organizations, for private school vouchers only, such as Renewanation, a Virginia-based SGO operating in Kansas, whose mission is to promote the 'Christian worldview.' If your donations go to one of these entities, you get back everything you put in as tax credits, plus you skirt the capital gains tax. Rep. Estes, whose constituent Charles Koch could have profited $2.4 million from this loophole, voted no on an amendment to end it. Koch's state Rep. Susan Estes, supports Senate Bill 87, another expansion of the Kansas voucher program, which attempted to make the state tax credit equal to 100% of voucher donations, and create three new categories of eligibility with no income limits at all. The federal voucher would benefit families with incomes at or below 300% of the area's median income. In Johnson County, this includes families earning over $320,000, based on 2023 data. The Wichita Diocese, in the Estes' districts, operates the only Catholic schools in the country that charge no tuition, doing so successfully for 28 years before private schools came to the Legislature to siphon tax revenue. Since 2014, these schools have received $9.7 million of the $32 million that could have funded other state priorities, such as public safety, agriculture and the Intellectual/Developmental Disability waitlist. Why aren't we promoting the Wichita stewardship model instead of funding private schools using public funds with no accountability? Evidence shows we shouldn't support vouchers at all. More than 60 of 105 Kansas counties don't have private schools. Those that pop up in response to vouchers have a terrible track record of student learning losses. Elite private schools parents dream of can still deny any child admission for any reason they want. Vouchers overwhelmingly benefit students already enrolled in private schools (92% in Oklahoma), and raise tuition at private schools (21-58% in Iowa), keeping them out of reach for low-income families, even with the voucher. One Big Beautiful Bill creates one big beautiful windfall for one type of charitable contribution, unavailable for any other cause — wildly unprecedented cronyism in the federal tax code. Whether the ultra-wealthy agree with vouchers or not, their accountants would be absolutely negligent in their fiduciary responsibility if they don't recommend this profitable way to liquidate appreciated stocks. Research from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy notes it harnesses 'wealthy families' interest in tax avoidance and personal profit as a means of bolstering private schools at the expense of public budgets' — to the tune of $26 billion of federal and state dollars over the next 10 years if capped. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wants no cap. Angry? Me, too. Tell Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall — and Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt in Missouri — to vote no on this egregious tax scheme for the super-wealthy. Perhaps suggest that they fund special education at the full level in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act instead? Mari-Lynn Poskin represents District 20 in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reps. Pfluger, Mann lead push to undo the Biden Administration's 'nonsensical' endangered species listings
Apr. 3—WASHINGTON, D.C. — As first reported in Fox News, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to reverse the listing of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard and the Lesser Prairie Chicken from the threatened and endangered species list. Doing so would unleash American energy, highlight the success of local conservation efforts, and restore regulatory certainty for rural communities, a news release said. Under the Biden Administration, the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard and the Lesser Prairie Chicken were listed as endangered species, ignoring the conservation efforts already being made by Texas and Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural and energy producers. The efforts resulted in net acreage conservation gains for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizards' habitat and increased the Lesser Prairie Chicken population. In the letter to Secretary Burgum, the Members stress that the Trump Administration has the opportunity to correct these misguided listings and ensure America can maintain its energy dominance, the release said. In the letter, the members write in part, "Empowering states, landowners, and private partners to continue leading species management ensures we can protect wildlife without sacrificing economic growth, energy production, or the livelihoods of hardworking Americans. Striking this balance is critical to maintaining our environmental stewardship and America's energy dominance. With the right approach, we can achieve lasting conservation results without burdening the very communities that have been instrumental in protecting these species... The Trump Administration can correct these misguided policies by directing FWS to delist both the Lesser Prairie Chicken and the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard. Doing so will restore balance to our conservation efforts — allowing local stakeholders to continue their successful work while safeguarding American energy production, protecting jobs, and supporting rural economies." In addition, the Representatives reintroduced the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act to strike the Biden Administration's designation of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This listing directly threatens the production of oil, natural gas, wind, and solar energy developed in the Permian Basin and across America. "Former President Biden spent four years fulfilling his promise to kill the fossil fuel industry one horrible policy at a time — including listing the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard under the Endangered Species Act, a direct attack on our hardworking men and women in the energy sector," said Rep. Pfluger. "This listing, along with many others, was completely misguided and repudiates significant private conservation efforts in West Texas. I am proud to lead the charge alongside my good friend and colleague Rep. Tracey Mann to continue undoing the Biden Administration's nonsensical policies and protect American energy production and jobs." "From day one, President Biden used every tool in his toolbox to trample on the livelihoods of America's energy and agricultural producers," said Rep. Mann. "His administration continuously ignored the facts on the ground and decided federal bureaucrats were better equipped to manage these populations than local citizens. Our bill restores power back to the local communities most impacted by these decisions and removes the regulatory handcuffs put on them by the Biden Administration. We look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Burgum to reverse these ill-informed listings and unleash the American energy dominance 77 million Americans voted for this past November." Read the full text of the legislation here. This legislation is supported by several associations in the energy industry, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA).
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Haskell University employees silenced amid mass layoffs and uncertainty
In the middle of mass layoffs at Haskell University, staff and faculty are being encouraged to not speak to media. University president Francis Arpan on Feb. 25 sent out a campus-wide email reminding staff and faculty that they couldn't speak out about recent changes, including the layoffs, without authorization from the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education. "As federal employees, we should coordinate with BIE Communications before participating in media interviews in an official capacity," Aspen's email read. "Additionally, any information obtained through federal employment should be shared only with proper coordination and approval. If you receive a media inquiry, please refer it to Jennifer Bell with BIE at "If you choose to participate in a media interview in your personal capacity, it must be done outside of duty hours and should not imply official representation of the University, BIE, or DOI." The layoffs are the result of a nation-wide federal employee layoff effort by President Donald Trump's administration. After five emails and multiple phone calls from The Capital-Journal, a BIE spokesperson responded a week after the first initial request for comment. "The Bureau reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing BIE students with a quality and culturally appropriate education in a safe, healthy and supportive environment, while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people," a spokesperson for BIE said. "We do not have a comment on personnel matters, however, Interior will continue to uphold federal responsibilities to tribal communities as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management." U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said he intends to get more information about the layoffs and the impact it will have on the student body. 'I have requested more information from (Interior) Secretary Burgum on these layoffs and urged the secretary to make certain the university has an adequate workforce to prevent disruptions for students enrolled at Haskell," Moran said in a written statement. "I will continue working with the tribal community to refine draft text of the Haskell Indian Nations Improvement Act, legislation I plan to introduce with Representative Tracey Mann to provide the university with a federal charter, separating it from the Bureau of Indian Education. "The termination of Haskell employees underscores the urgency of disentangling the university from federal oversight, allowing Haskell to better serve Native students more effectively.' In December, Moran announced his intention to introduce a bill with U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann that would remove governing control of Haskell University from the Bureau of Indian Education to the Haskell Board of Regents and still maintain federal funding for the university. 'Haskell Indian Nations University is a one-of-a-kind, historic institution that was established to meet the educational needs of students of any federally recognized tribe,' Mann said in the December announcement. 'Haskell should be a crown jewel for both Native Americans and Kansas, but for far too long has been failed by the federal government. For years, the U.S. Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Education has mismanaged the university, failed to comply with federal oversight, and turned a blind eye to misconduct that has been detrimental to Haskell students. "It is obvious that the best way to protect Haskell's rich heritage and culture is to charter the university and remove its governance from the federal bureaucrats to a Board of Regents nominated by Tribal communities. This new chapter for Haskell is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it's imperative that those most directly impacted have a welcome, active voice in helping us enact this change.' Students and staff of the university protested Feb. 24 at the capital to demonstrate their desire to have the faculty and staff reinstated. "Haskell is going through a really tough time right now," Haskell senior Kylie Standingwater said during the protest. "So, right now we're just kind of fighting for what we believe is right, trying to get our instructors back, trying to get the employees that we believe need to be back." Standingwater said about 50 employees were laid off, including SEVEN faculty members. This accounts for roughly one-third of the employees at Haskell University, according to the university's staff directory. "Haskell is, you know, the future of Indigenous education," Standingwater said during the protest. "And, you know, taking that away is going to hurt future generations. So, that's what we're fighting for. It's not just our education that matters. It's future generations. It's our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews. "You know, we want to go back to our reservations better and make them better than what we found it and taking Haskell away is going to make sure that doesn't happen." The Haskell Foundation, a Lawrence-based nonprofit organization, is raising money to support staff and faculty laid off and overall needs at Haskell University. The foundation's website says some of what they are raising money for is for three to four coaches on a part-time contract of three months; a bus driver for three months; general staff; 13 custodial staff or contracting cleaning services for three months; two to four dining staff for three months; and tutors. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Haskell University employees silenced amid mass layoffs, uncertainty
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Moran takes FFP proposal to Senate floor
Feb. 17—WASHINGTON D.C. — On the afternoon of Thursday Feb. 13, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan) took his message to the Senate floor about legislation he has helped introduce to move the Food For Peace program from the beleaguered USAID agency to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The move was first proposed last Tuesday by Kansas Rep. Tracey Mann with support from the Kansas delegation and others as a means to not only continue the FFP program, but as a protection for Kansas farmers and grain storage managers to preserve a market outlet for grain sorghum, which represents a significant portion of the Kansas agriculture economy. In his floor speech, Sen. Moran also higlighted the importance of Food For Peace for national security, as well as a means to feed the world's hungry. "In conjunction with the President's action, I've introduced a bill with Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Tracey Mann to move Food for Peace from the turbulent USAID and move it to the Department of Agriculture in an effort to prevent waste and bring the program closer to farmers that depend upon it," Moran said. "By placing Food for Peace under USDA's authority, we can make certain that the program is in good hands and can continue to bring revenue to American agriculture. "Just a little over an hour ago, the Senate confirmed the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins," Moran noted. "I have no doubt she will be an excellent advocate for our nation's farmers, and I appreciate the conversations we've already had on this legislation and her excitement to work on this proposal with me." On the Senate floor Moran's message pointed to the program as a Kansas legacy, as well as its necessity for Kansans and others. "Today, I want to speak about a program that has shaped our nation's humanitarian efforts and made a significant impact on my home state of Kansas, a program called Food for Peace. In 1953, agricultural surpluses had reached an all-time high, but the price of storing excess commodities was too expensive to rationalize, and it was at risk of going to waste. "Kansas farmers, like Cheyenne County's Peter O'Brien, worked hard to cultivate and grow these commodities. Looking for a solution, Peter suggested at a local farm bureau meeting that maybe the excess food could be sent to countries in need. Peter understood that out of our abundance, we have a moral duty and opportunity to feed the hungry. His idea sparked the origin of a program we now know as Food for Peace. "Another Kansan, one of my predecessors, Andy Schoeppel, led the Food for Peace Act in the Senate, which was signed into law by President Eisenhower, another Kansan, in 1954. And Senator Bob Dole from Russell, Kansas later championed the reauthorization of Food for Peace. The program's premise was simple but impactful: by leveraging the food surpluses that we produce in Kansas and across the nation, we could address famine around the world while creating new markets for our commodities and bolstering our agricultural economy. "The first shipments of American wheat and corn were sent to Korea and Greece in 1954, and by the end of Food for Peace's initial year of operation, it had fed 1.2 million people. Over the last 70 years, the program has fed more than 4 billion people in more than 50 countries, all with American grown commodities." Hunger as a catalyst for conflict "Hunger, whether driven by price increases or food shortages, can act as a catalyst for protests and armed conflict. We've seen how food can be used as a weapon of war as radical Islamic groups in Syria use food as a means to recruit soldiers. We've witnessed regions of the world that are critical to America's strategic interest sent into chaos due to people not having access to affordable food. "In a turbulent world stricken with conflict, American leadership is more than just our military and our economic might. Food aid provided by the United States reduces despair and increases stability within fragile countries by enabling economic productivity and minimizing the risk of radicalization. "For countless individuals around the world, their survival is dependent upon the resources provided by the American people. These vulnerable populations rely on the strength and prosperity of the United States. "However, much work remains in the ongoing battle against hunger, and part of that battle is improving the process and programs that administer our aid. A necessary move "Food for Peace is administered by the USAID, and the inefficiency of USAID has been growing concern. The agency struggles with bureaucratic delays, mismanagement, and a lack of coordination, which undermines its ability to deliver aid effectively to those in need. This inefficiency not only waste taxpayer dollars, but also diminishes the impact of Americans' foreign aid in addressing global crisis. "Reports suggest that millions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to promoting tourism in Lebanon and Egypt, funding the purchase of electric vehicles for Vietnam and inadvertently supporting the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan. Even more concerning, it has been confirmed that $9 million intended for civilian food and medical supplies in Syria fell into the hands of terrorist organizations linked to Al-Qaeda due to the failed oversight of USAID. "Amid these concerns of corruption, President Trump has taken steps to dismantle USAID. In conjunction with the President's action and with approval of the White House policy team, I've introduced a bill with Senator John Hoeven and Senator Roger Marshall, and Representative Tracey Mann to move Food for Peace from the turbulent USAID program and move it to the Department of Agriculture in an effort to prevent waste and bring the program closer to farmers that depend upon it. "USDA has a long and proven history of managing agricultural policy and programs that support American farmers, food distribution systems and global security efforts. USDA has boots on the ground and the infrastructure already in place to support the logistics for food assistance. The agency understands how to move crops efficiently, sustainably and quickly. This knowledge is indispensable when responding to international crises, where speed and reliability can mean the difference between life and death. By placing Food for Peace under USDA's authority, we make certain that the program is in good hands and can continue to bring revenue to American agriculture." In conclusion "In rural America, food assistance programs like Food for Peace put American-grown products in the hands of the hungry, and this food is a tangible extension of the hard work and dedication of farmers and ranchers," Moran concluded. "I'm pleased to help find ways to make our delivery of food aid more effective, more efficient and remove the challenges and things that we've seen that are so disturbing. Food for Peace bolsters the farmers who feed us, creates a more stable world and feeds the hungry."
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansans aim to rescue Food For Peace
Feb. 12—By moving Food for Peace to USDA, the program can continue to equip American producers to serve hungry people while providing more transparency and efficiency as to how taxpayer dollars are stewarded. Rep. Tracey Mann The farming community believes in raising the crop and providing things for the world and for other people to be able to prosper themselves. We've been the breadbasket of the world for years, and that hasn't changed. PCCA CEO Kim Barnes WASHINGTON, D.C — The shuttering and impending dismantlement of the U.S. Agency for International Development is not only causing a stir among the world's recipients of U.S. assistance, but it has also become an issue here at home, in the heart of the nation's breadbasket. Citing fraud and corruption within the agency created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 executive order shut down USAID, placing an unprecedented 90-day freeze on foreign assistance in his first day of office. The freeze attempted to place some 2,200 USAID employees on administrative leave or evacuating them from their host countries, but that move has been barred by Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump in his first term, by a limited temporary restraining order that is due to expire at midnight on Feb. 14. While USAID has run Food for Peace, USDA has run two other international food assistance programs, including the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program named in part after former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. Food for Peace uses taxpayer dollars to buy American agricultural surplus to use as foreign food aid. The program is intended to fight world hunger, expand international trade and advance foreign diplomacy. Rescuing Food For Peace On Tuesday, a group of U.S. Representatives led by Kansas First District Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Salina, alongside U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, R-KS and John Hoeven, R-ND, introduced legislation to move the administration of the Food for Peace program, as a part of USAID, from that agency to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bill does not appear to include Feed the Future, another USAID program that has awarded tens of millions of dollars to Kansas State University for agricultural research. "For 70 years, Kansas and American farmers have played an active role in sending their commodities to feed malnourished and starving populations around the world," Rep. Mann released from his Washington office on Tuesday. "This free gift from the American people is more than food. It's diplomacy and feeds the most vulnerable communities while helping them recognize the freedom, prosperity, and good America can establish across the globe. By moving Food for Peace to USDA, the program can continue to equip American producers to serve hungry people while providing more transparency and efficiency as to how taxpayer dollars are stewarded. I will continue to work with the Trump Administration to uproot wasteful spending while ensuring America can continue to be the beacon of hope and freedom we are to the rest of the world." Co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, David Rouzer, R-NC. and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, R-PA. "Food for Peace is a critical program for American farmers and has a proven track-record of successfully feeding people all over the world," said Rep. Crawford. "I am encouraged by the Trump Administration taking a fresh look at how we provide foreign assistance, including Food for Peace. I believe a move from USAID to USDA would make program administration more efficient and more in-line with America's priorities. USDA already runs two international food assistance programs that deal with in-kind food donations, Food for Progress and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. This makes USDA a natural home for Food for Peace." "Kansas has a long history of providing food to the hungry beginning with a Kansas farmer suggesting the U.S. provide surplus grain to countries in need, to President Eisenhower establishing the resulting humanitarian aid program, to Senator Bob Dole's expanding Food for Peace, to the farmers who grow the crops that feed the world," noted Sen. Moran. "As part of an ongoing effort to save money and increase efficiency, Food for Peace should be moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By moving this program closer to the producers who grow these crops, we can help reduce waste and make certain our farmers have access to this valuable market. Food stability is essential to political stability, and our food aid programs help feed the hungry, bolster our national security and provide important markets for our farmers." Rep. Mann said that for the past 70 years, America's farmers, millers, shippers, and dockworkers have served at the helm of combatting international hunger as Food for Peace has fed more than 4 billion people in more than 150 countries, noting more than 50 organizations support his legislation. "Kansas farmers take great pride in Food for Peace and the impact the program and American commodities have had on feeding the world," said Chris Tanner, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers President. "Moving Food for Peace to USDA would continue to provide the needed relief for people in need. Thank you to Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for leading the way on this issue." "Kansas-grown sorghum is a critical crop for food security in America and abroad," said Adam York, CEO of Kansas Sorghum Producers Association. "Throughout changes in administrations, sorghum farmers have worked to have a seat at the table in international food programs housed across many agencies to ensure America's farmers can contribute to our national security. We recommend policy makers continue prioritizing American agriculture as a solution to challenges in domestic and foreign policy." "U.S. soybeans play an important role in addressing global hunger," said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Kentucky. "Soybeans are the only plant-based protein that provides all nine amino acids essential for human health, and our farmers have been proud to support international food assistance programs. ASA strongly supports efforts to protect these programs and to ensure U.S. grown commodities continue to feed vulnerable populations around the globe. We thank Representative Mann and Senator Moran for their leadership on this important issue." "National Sorghum Producers supports this legislation that would move U.S. food aid programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture — a move that makes sense and would ensure the long-term viability and success of these programs by continuing to provide a critical market for American sorghum farmers and the ability to move grain from our fields to the hands of those in need around the world," said Amy France, National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman. "Our nation's millers take great pride in feeding those facing famine emergencies around the world," said Kim Z Cooper, Vice President of Government Affairs for the North American Millers' Association. "Our flagship emergency food aid program Food for Peace not only helps those abroad, but is a critical component of Buy American and America First policies. We applaud Representatives Mann (R-KS), Thompson (R-PA), Crawford (R-AR), Newhouse (R-WA), Rouzer (R-NC), and Senators Moran and Hoeven for introducing legislation that would allow Food for Peace to operate under USDA, and reinstate this critical, life-saving program." Rep Mann has continuously championed Kansas' leadership in the U.S. fight against world hunger. In June 2023, Rep. Mann introduced legislation to reform Food for Peace and ensure that U.S. grown commodities remained the cornerstone of international food aid. Much of that legislation was seen in the House Agriculture Committee's Farm, Food, and National Security Act. In November 2022, Rep. Mann hosted 'Thank the American Farmer' in Salina, Kansas to pay tribute to the rich history of Kansas agriculture's role in feeding the world. Preserving a Kansas legacy Rescuing the Food for Peace program and placing it within USDA's administration is an important step in keeping an export market for grain sorghum. While the U.S. is the world leader at 14% of global sorghum production, Kansas produces 57% of the sorghum grown in this country. Grain sorghum, or milo as it is known by most Kansas producers, is primarily used for livestock feed and ethanol production, but is becoming popular in the consumer food industry and other emerging markets. Overseas, sorghum is well known as an ancient, sustainable, gluten-free grain with a mild, earthy flavor similar to wheat berries. Chefs around the world know it as a flexible ingredient that is used in a variety of preparations. Shutting down Food for Peace would adversely affect Kansas producers, who turn to milo as a common follow planting in their annual crop rotation. Because it requires less water to produce, it has been championed by growers, especially in drought-stricken central and western Kansas. But because Kansans grow it, they are also harvesting and storing it. Kansas currently has more than 150 million bushels of sorghum held at mills, elevators, warehouses, terminals and processors according to USDA grain stock data. The total nationwide, incidentally, is 210 million bushels. Dismantling a potential sorghum market outlet along with USAID would be a bad move, noted Pawnee County Co-op Association CEO Kim Barnes. Barnes, who has spent 51 of his 70 years at PCCA purchasing and selling grain, is continuously on the lookout for grain contracts. Sometimes, that means selling to Food for Peace, when the organization makes the call. Sometimes, they sell to brokers. Other times, directly to an export house, and they then make the contract with the government. From there, the grain is loaded on a ship and sent overseas. Barnes explained that taxpayer dollars pay the American agriculture industry for the food that is used in foreign aid. The way the USAID program has worked in the past, he noted, is the government, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sends out a call for contract. If the government doesn't buy sorghum to use as food aid, grain elevators and others in the industry could find themselves stuck with last year's harvest filling up space — and potentially costing them storage interest — heading into this year's growing season. "I've gotten these contract proposals for many years," Barnes said. "They tell you what they're looking to buy and the destination and how much they're looking to buy." "Right now, there's no other export market for it, and there's no domestic market," Barnes said. "We were hoping there'd be another one with as much milo as we have. "The market is just not there to sell it. We've been buying milo from our producers all along. We have a tremendous company-owned position at this point, just nobody on the other side to sell it to. And it's just not country elevators, it's terminals, it's everybody, because there's just no other market in the world today for milo. "It won't go bad — we know how to maintain grain — but storage space is going to get tight," Barnes said. PCCA's elevator has storage capacity of 6 million bushels, Barnes said. About 2.5 to 3 million of that is currently full, and the majority of that is sorghum. Compared to this time in past years, grain storage is typically around 2 to 2.5 million, with sorghum accounting for a smaller share. "This is just a milo issue," he said. "Because corn, soybeans and wheat are finding homes elsewhere. If we can't get a chance to move this milo, the basis on milo is just going to deteriorate farther as we get into the future months," Barnes said. "Because if there's no place to go with it, we can't buy something that we can't get fair value on the other side." "Putting Food for Peace under the USDA is probably the best place to go for it. That is certainly better than just having it go away," Barnes said. 'The breadbasket of the world' Barnes, from the co-op in Pawnee County, echoed the thoughts shared in Congress. "My concern is these will be potential markets that we'll lose, and people will go hungry," Barnes said. "They'll look for other sources, and will those other sources not be what we need for safety? We also need to take care of those in need." Barnes said that foreign food aid opens the door for long-term benefit in exports. "In other words," he said, "taking that development of that country, getting it on its feet — helping people to be better economists in their countries —carries the idea that 'we help you today, get you back on your fee and you could be a purchaser down the road.' "The farming community," he added, "believes in raising the crop and providing things for the world and for other people to be able to prosper themselves. We've been the breadbasket of the world for years, and that hasn't changed."
