Klobuchar addresses farming concerns
Candidate for governor toiurs Martin County farm
Trending
FAIRMONT - U.S. Amy Klobuchar paid a visit to a farm in Martin County on Tuesday and addressed the many headwinds farmers are now facing.
The candidate for Minnesota governor met with sixth-generation farmer Haley Ammann-Ekstrom, who is also a children’s book author.
Klobuchar said Minnesota is a strong state because of farming communities like those in Martin County.
"It means that we aren’t going to be dependent on foreign food like a while back we were dependent on foreign oil," she said. "We don’t want that to happen again. That’s why I’m such a big supporter of our farmland and making sure that we keep it farmland, that we help our small farmers so it’s not just big farmers. We want both, but man, you want to have small farmers as well, or you don’t have competition."
Ekstrom led Klobuchar on a tour of the century farm with her seven-month-old baby who is now seven generations of the family.
Currently, Ekstrom said she has about 60 head of cattle, but the farm has a capacity for around 100. She said there are plans to knock down a run-down barn from the 1920s on the property and replace it.
"There’s always something that’s going to be changed out," Ekstrom said. "I feel each generation puts their own spin on it while also honoring the previous generation."
Ekstrom told Klobuchar the corn grown on the farm is mainly used for the cows, soybeans and a cover crop patch. Ekstrom said calving season is the busiest.
"We all work off the farm, full-time jobs as well," she said.
Klobuchar inquired if they get extra help during that time. Ekstrom said even with plenty of work, it is just her, her husband and her father.
On prices for producers in this area, Ekstrom said they have been quite favorable for cow-calf producers the past few years.
"My husband and I started our own beef business," she said. "We’ll sell directly to the public to those that like to enjoy delicious beef protein, and that’s been a fun piece."
Klobuchar asked Ekstrom is she is concered with the news surrounding the import of ground beef and lowering tariffs. Ekstrom said the markets are having a little knee-jerk reaction, but hopefully they'll take a breath.
"I was on maternity leave, I came back in May," Ekstrom said. "When I came back, it was screwworm. That was the headline, and I feel like there’s always something in the headline."
The topic then shifted over to the cows themselves, as everyone walked to where the cows were roaming.
"We raise primarily Senepol and Angus here," Ekstrom said. "Those are going to be primarily black and red-hided animals because they can take our heat a lot better than other breeds can, and they’re easy keepers. They don’t take a lot of feed, and they’re really good leather. We will sell these calves in the fall time to a local feedlot here in Martin County. We’re fortunate enough to work with a local feedlot."
After seeing the cows, the tour took Klobuchar to the cover crop section of the farm. Ekstrom had a sample of what they have been growing, including millet and cowpea, and mentioned the method for how they planted.
"We knew that those animals would be bred," she said. "Bred animals, for the safety of their calf that will come in February, March, need to be able to graze this. I can’t control how much each animal is going to eat. When we let them loose, it’s like 'You need to be able to eat that and be OK.'"
With this and other pieces of farming, Ekstrom said they have been able to utilize help locally and from the state.
"We partner with our local Martin County Soil and Water Conservation, too," she said. "We’re working toward that NRCS water certificate, and hopefully get that completed here next year. It’s amazing that so many of those programs are available. I think sometimes it’s more of a humble thing for farmers and ranchers that they don’t want to use some of the beginning farmer loans or grants."
The tour ended with Ekstrom presenting Klobuchar with a signed copy of Ruby the Runaway, a book Ekstrom wrote starring the first cow purchased by the Ekstroms for the farm.
"I thought, 'What a unique way to introduce agriculture and cattle to children, and hopefully give them an interest in reading books as well,'" she said.
Thinking over the whole visit, Klobuchar said farmers like Ekstrom are an inspiration to everyone.
"She just had her own baby, and she’s out here with her husband running this farm," Klobuchar said. "She clearly loves the animals, clearly loves farming and ranching. In the time when there are so many headwinds, when you don’t know what’s going to be announced next out of Washington, whether it’s the tariffs or whether it’s the sudden import of beef from other countries that they don’t need right now, she just keeps going, and I just think you’ve got to."