Negative attacks distract
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Editor,
Interesting that someone from Butte would question me and our business. This is just another negative attack to direct attention from the real issues. Who has the real experience and track record to represent Senate District 6?
Our businesses are all public knowledge. As for the orchard, yes, we have one and always have. We switched from apples to cherries a few years ago. By the way, when we purchased this property, it was agriculture.
If this city dweller is suggesting we do away with the agriculture appraisal for orchards, then that is another discussion. I can tell you that if this happens there will be no more orchards on Flathead Lake only housing developments.
As to the money from my family farm and ranch in central Montana, most of that money comes from federal government programs to enhance wildlife. This includes game habitat water envelopment, wildlife plantings, trees and removing land from production.
Interestingly, as we try to remove land from the CRP, the federal government is advertising for more to be put in. The other programs are set up to decrease food costs for the public.
We are proud of our ranch and farm. Nobody gave us anything to buy this land. We bought this land with money we earned the old-fashioned way — hard work — not handouts. Now our son, a fourth-generation farmer, is working to keep us in agriculture.
That’s not easy when our property taxes over there are over $28,000 yearly, and we have workers’ comp, payroll, seed, fertilizer, fuel and a list of costs that goes on and on.
We pray he succeeds. Agriculture is the backbone of America.
Thanks for the opportunity to clear this up. Call me with any questions, 849-6096.
Janna Taylor
Dayton
