Representative Todd Tiahrt - Fourth Congressional District of Kansas

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Agriculture

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Agriculture is critically important to Kansas. According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, nearly 20 percent of all Kansans are employed in jobs related to agriculture.

Todd believes Congress must help ensure the well being of family farmers. Farming historically has, and will continue to be, a tremendous component in our local and national economy. Public policy should encourage and protect the family farm and encourage the next generation of farmers to continue in the rich heritage we have in Kansas while adopting new methods and techniques for farming.

In Kansas, we have some of the most productive farmland in the world that provides food to millions of people around the globe. And south-central Kansas has a major role in that production. For example, Kansas is the largest wheat-producing state in the U.S., which is why it is called the “Breadbasket of the World.” Nearly 20 percent of the wheat produced in America comes from Kansas, and half of that is exported. Within the 4th congressional district, Sumner County is the largest wheat-producing county in our state. According to the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas produces an average of more than 370 million bushels of wheat on 9 million acres every year.

Grain sorghum, also called milo, is a major Kansas crop as well. Most of this is used for livestock feed, but there are expanding uses for it including in ethanol production. According to the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas is number one for production of sorghum with farmers growing more than 40 percent of the nation’s grain sorghum every year. And again, Sumner County was ranked number one in the state for the highest grain sorghum production according to the latest USDA statistics.

In addition to crops, Kansas’ livestock industry plays a huge role in the agriculture economy in Kansas. Kansas is ranked number one in the nation for commercial cattle processed. Cattle generated more than $6 billion in cash receipts in 2005. There are more than 30,000 farms in Kansas with cattle and calves, and more than 18,000 people are employed in the state in jobs related to meatpacking and prepared meat products manufacturing.

Our food supply system provides Americans with choice, abundance and safety by relying on a global economy and unparalleled international trade. Todd supports fair trade agreements that help expand United States agricultural exports. The Fourth Congressional District of Kansas has a direct interest in ensuring foreign markets remain friendly to our products. One in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export, and 25 percent of gross farm income comes from exports. Free trade agreements have been proven to increase agricultural exports, and Todd believes we can expand our markets in the future for even greater exports of Kansas' crops.

Because Todd sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, he is able to help direct federal dollars back to south-central Kansas for strategic research initiatives otherwise funded by local tax dollars. Since taking office in 1994, Todd has worked to secure approximately $30 million in federal funds for agriculture-related research projects in the state of Kansas. These projects help scientists and researchers develop better weather-resistant grains, crops with value-added qualities, food safety initiatives and water conservation options for farmers. By improving the value in the crop, farmers are able to offer a better product on the open market.

Ethanol and biodiesel
Todd believes America must be taking steps to reduce its dependency on foreign oil. One of the ways to reduce our dependency on foreign oil is to expand the use of alternative forms of energy, such as ethanol and biodiesel. Todd is a supporter of both ethanol and biodiesel and believes each as a role to play in a balanced national energy policy. Not only are these fuels good from a national security perspective, but they are also good for the environment and help bring needed revenue to farming communities across Kansas. The Energy bi ll, H.R. 6, that President Bush signed into law in late 2005, contained a renewable fuels requirement to add 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel (such as ethanol) in gasoline by 2012.

Additionally, Todd is a co-sponsor of a bill that would require a 10 percent blend of renewable fuels in all gasoline sold in the United States. To learn more about this bill, click here.

Quick fact: The latest estimate (2005) for ethanol production in Kansas is 173.5 million gallons per year.

For more information about ethanol, visit the American Coalition for Ethanol and their Ethanol 101 Frequently Asked Questions page.

Biodiesel is a synthetic diesel fuel produced from oils, including soybean and canola oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking grease. It can be blended with conventional diesel fuel and used in diesel engines with few or no modifications. With some engine modifications, it can be used in nearly pure form. Because biodiesel can displace conventional diesel without the use of new (and in many cases costly) vehicles, there is growing interest in its use. Also, because it can be produced from agricultural products, there is keen interest in its development as a way to promote rural economies and reduce agricultural wastes.

The American Jobs Creation Act (P.L. 108-357, H.R. 4520) provides a tax credit of up to $1.00 per gallon for the sale and use of biodiesel for virgin agricultural products. The credit is $0.50 per gallon for biodiesel from recycled grease. In addition, the law provides an excise tax credit for biodiesel blends (i.e. biodiesel and conventional diesel). Producers are eligible for one credit or the other, but not both. These credits were set to expire at the end of 2006. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) extends these credits through 2008.

The Death Tax
Todd is an ardent supporter of permanently repealing the estate tax (commonly referred to as the death tax). The death tax is a tax on a person’s assets once that person dies, which often forces families to re-purchase family farms and businesses at a time when they are mourning the death of a loved one.
Todd has voted for repeal of the Death Tax in the 107th Congress, the 108th Congress and the 109th Congress.

Land owners and small business owners deserve to pass along to their families what they have worked a lifetime to attain. Forcing families to sell farms or buy back a business after the death of a loved one because of extreme taxes levied by the government is not right.

Eminent Domain
Ever since the infamous Kelo v. City of New London Supreme Court decision in June 2005, Kansans have voiced their strong opposition to this ruling.

Todd agrees fully with his constituents that governments should not be given the authority to transfer private land from one owner to another for economic development purposes. Securing the right of individuals to own and manage their own property is provided for in the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth Amendment states, “nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.”

Constituents who talk with him about this issue strongly believe the Supreme Court went too far when it said a government can transfer private land from one owner to anther if the second owner will supposedly generate more tax revenue. The court’s decision does not pass the common sense test.

The court’s flawed reasoning is precisely what the original Supreme Court warned against at its inception in 1789 when it called eminent domain a “despotic power.” Unfortunately, we have been forced to respond to the 2005 Supreme Court’s decision with legislation to deter future land grabs by greedy local governments.

Americans have relied on constitutional protection against abusive land transfers from one person to another for more than two centuries. History reminds us that nations that disregard the rights associated with private property ownership disregard other fundamental rights of the citizenry.

We have recognized there are times when governments need to purchase private land to build a road or construct a school for use by the general public. Occasionally, this has to be done against a landowner’s wishes. But our Founders believed only under extreme circumstances should property be taken from a land owner for the greater public good. The idea that a government would use its eminent domain power to take land from one private owner and transfer it to another land owner for economic development is an abuse of the public good definition.

Many farmers in Todd’s district have expressed how harmful this court ruling could be to them if a local government wants to take their land for development. Many farms have been in the same family for generations. Under the Supreme Court’s ruling, a government could forcefully take all or a portion of the family farm so more tax revenue could be generated by a developer. This scenario is a real possibility, and for this reason, the House of Representatives has taken several actions to prevent such an unjust land grab.

Agriculture links of interest
2002 Census of Agriculture Congressional District Profile (PDF file)
USDA Kansas Farm Facts
U.S. House Agriculture Committee
U.S. Department of Agriculture
KSU Research and Extension
Kansas Department of Agriculture
4-H Clubs
National Agricultural Statistics Service Kansas Page