This seems like a prime example of willful abuse of the tax-exemption for churches. How has their business affected other, similar businesses in the area that have to pay their own taxes, plus make up for the taxes not paid by the LDS church ranch? Their environmental stewardship is great, and, knowing the general intelligence of Mormons, I’d expect is well run, but all that just seems like window-dressing on something unsellable when you actually look at it closely.
Well, you've hit just the surface.
Here's an example of what you're talking about with the ag competition in Idaho: Farmers face off with LDS Church
The "non-profit" LDS church creates problems even with Mormon farmers w/their commercial produce enterprise!
Note this quote from an LDS church member:
Declo farmer Mark Darrington, however, is also concerned the church intended to take over management and does not see that as being in the best interest of his community. "I am an active member of the Mormon Church, but facts is facts,” he said. “I did not want them to turn this into a big corporate farm because of the impact on the local community.” For one, he said, “local vendors are bypassed. I think that puts a bad taste not just in non-members’ mouth but also in members’ mouth.” ...He said the church setting up a large entity and garnering large potato contracts would have an adverse effect...“The church tends to not cooperate with growers,” he said. Source: Farmers face off with LDS Church
So the Lds church grows all these potatoes in Idaho and Florida and sells them with large contracts to Frito Lays for unhealthy potato chips!
(I'll think I'll be buying less cult-laced Frito products for family gatherings in the future)