Photo by Mike Lamb Allen Deutz, left, listened as Wabasso hog farmer Paul Sobocinski talked about agriculture issues during a listening session with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison held at the Deutz family farm just outside Marshall on Tuesday.

MARSHALL — David Stelter stood up from the third row of chairs under the large white event tent set up in front a farm house. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sat in the front at a table facing the audience of nearly 50 people — mostly made up of farmers.

“I’m here to represent farming, but basically the dairy industry and small cities. I serve as mayor of Wood Lake, Minnesota, along with a 300-cow dairy farm,” Stelter told Ellison. “I have a couple points to bring to your attention.”

By the time Stelter got past his second point, he delivered the message ag country dreads to hear.

“We now have a dead Main Street. We have no people. We have no kids. We have no school. And it’s because we have no people in agriculture anymore — and this is why Wood Lake is where it was, because of agriculture,” Stelter said. “So you probably can’t turn the trend around, but it does affect the whole southwest Minnesota economy if the farmers don’t maintain control of the farm land.”

Ellison was in Marshall Tuesday on a tour that ended at the family farm operated by Allen Deutz, which sits just outside the city. It once was a medium-sized dairy farm. A few years back, Deutz sold his dairy cows and now runs a diversified farm-to-consumer operation.

Deutz hosted an agriculture listening session for Ellison.

“I come from a farm family from both sides of my family,” Ellison told the audience at the start of the session. “I grew up in an urban environment, but I spent time on farms. I hauled hay back when they used to haul it. Nowadays they just roll it up, I guess.”

Then he explained why he was holding the listening session.

“I want to hear from you about things that are going right, things that are not going so right. And what we can do together to do something about it,” he said. “I believe when it comes to ag policy, the national government policy over the last 40, 50 years — maybe longer than that — it’s get bigger or get out. I think it’s wrong. I think the focus should be on pursuing moderate and small holders. And it’s my hope that people can earn the income they need on the farm and not have to depend on off-farm income.”

He immediately heard stories of heartache situations from those in attendance.

“I have a question on health care. I’m Allen’s mom and we farmed here for many years and we had a dairy farm,” Fran Deutz said with her left arm in a cast. “I’m paying $20,000 for a broken arm out of my pocket this year. How can we afford those premiums and costs in our prices (of doing agriculture)? There is no health care for the farmer. You take $20,000 off your income, you are going to town looking for another job.

“I do chores, then I would go to my second job. Then I go back and do chores, and then go to another job. Now at my age, I’m getting too old to do all this stuff and I’m still paying $20,000 for a broken arm. There is no health care for us, for small businesses. I think there should be something for the family farm for insurance,” she said.

“I absolutely agree with you on that one,” Ellison answered. “Let me tell you there is the immediate problem you are dealing with, which is an outrageous problem. And I think it has something to do with the fact these health care monopolies can charge whatever they want. What can we do at an attorney general standpoint? We can investigate those absorbent costs.”

But Ellison also recommended Fran Deutz should report “these people” and see if his office can “knock that charge down” by challenging it.

But Fran Deutz added it’s just not the doctor costs, it’s also the insurance premiums.

Stelter than added his wife also works both full time and part time off-the-farm jobs.

“Our insurance is at least that expensive,” referring to the $933 Deutz says she pays a month for insurance that includes a high deductible.

“I don’t get to see her. What kind of life is that?” Stelter asked Ellison.

“I don’t know if you know this of me, but that’s why I believe in a single-payer health-care system,” Ellison answered.

“You got to make it so they (family farms) can afford it,” Fran Deutz said.

“So they can afford to go to the doctor when they need to, because farming actually can be dangerous too — more than other professions,” Ellison said. “You are absolutely right. It’s outrageous and it’s wrong, and I appreciate you sharing your personal story on this. We need systematic change, but if you come to us about those costs that you get, we might be able to get some short-term relief. But it’s bigger than just one case.”

Stelter assured Ellison that farmers are not afraid of hard work. But they need a break on what they are paying out.

“There’s not a farmer here that did not sign up for working hard. But like I said, you can’t work as hard we do for as little we get out of it and then we pay above and beyond on what the normal health care costs are,” he said. “All I’m working for now is to pay my health care out of pocket and pay a life insurance policy to cover whatever debt I have. That is what I do every day when I get up.”