We hope you visit our Blog often.  We will endeavor to keep you posted on:

1. what is happening on our farm
2. proposed state and federal legislation that will affect our food supply
3. where you can buy our farm fresh produce in The Treasure Valley.

I farm, because I love it!  I choose to grow certified organic food because that’s what I want on MY table for MY family.  Unfortunately, during the busy season, MY TABLE becomes the field where I am working the crops — now that’s healthy “fast food” — not too bad of a problem to have REALLY farm fresh food.

The administrative hoops I jump through on the farm are time consuming and not always pleasant.  I must keep meticulous records, undergo inspections and audits to be able to present and sell what I produce as “Certified Organic”

Dealing with bureaucracy can, in and of itself, become a full time job, one that can and in the past year has taken valuable and unnecessary time away from my farming operation.

During the next few weeks I will chronicle how Ada County Idaho bureaucrats have made a series of decisions, which affected my farming operations, my clients and the State of Idaho Tax Commission.  It caused the loss of:

• 27% of direct market farming sales from our farm alone
• 1 and 1/2 FTE’s (Jobs) — along with the associated payroll taxes
• The elimination of local trade and sales of Idaho agricultural products and food from our farm and 8 other Idaho farmers
• The Loss of over  $4,000.00 of sales tax will not flow into the coffers of the State Tax Commission’s office.

[1] Farm Stand through 2008 Farm Stand 2009[2]   [3]

Thanks for reading our Blog — stay tuned for further explanation of this and other farming and local food issues and information.

Regards,

Lee and Gilbert Rice

Rice Family Farms

353 East Mason Creek Lane Meridian, Idaho 83642

masonck@msn.com

lee@ricefamilyfarms.com

(208) 887-5685  (208) 724-5367