Freedom for local farmers

Friends, the few farms we have should be fully freed to produce as much local food for us as they can. Instead, we tax them and make their lives unnecessarily complicated.

There is no system for surplus. Without surplus purchase guarantees, the farmers, scrambling around over un-purchased produce, are conditioned to plant conservatively – to grow less.

Whether it’s town of Taos surplus purchase guarantees or Taos County tax-free farming, any investment we make in farms is an investment in ourselves. For example, homeowners in Taos County would, with a growing local food system, see our home values increase. The more vibrant and whole the food system, the higher our home values.

All of our elected officials ran welcoming new ideas to strengthen agriculture. Our representatives earn handsome salaries. We would expect excitement about engaging with the public on solutions.

Matthew Swaye Ranchos de Taos