I love my family’s farm. I love its location on top of Buffalo Ridge with its expansive view of the hills, fields, and pasture all around. I love its smells, particularly the smell of the first cutting of alfalfa in June. I love its remoteness, where I could live in quiet privacy, see the stars at night without the glare of streetlights, and clearly hear the frogs singing in the pond in the spring.

My parents recently moved to town and my youngest brother took over the farm. But I worry that he will not be able to hold on to it. These are difficult times in the agriculture industry. Trade wars have reduced or eliminated essential markets. Adverse weather conditions have reduced crop yields or prevented planting all together.

Net farm income is declining and farm debt is on the rise. According to Nebraska Farm Business, Inc. (a financial and management assistance company), the average American farm was $1.3 million in debt in 2017, and the farm sector’s total debt has risen nearly 10% since then.

Dairy farmers are selling out and quitting the dairy business in record numbers. My cousins recently sold their cows and quit milking, the end of a third-generation dairy farm. On top of all this, rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums threaten the financial stability of all Minnesotans, urban and rural alike.

Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison is aware of the difficulties facing farmers and rural Minnesotans. He has been proactive in his efforts to help people afford their lives and live with dignity and respect. He has filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and drug companies for price fixing. He has formed a task force to address lowering the cost of pharmaceutical drug prices and started a wage theft unit in the Office of the Attorney General to investigate complaints of wage theft and other cases of workplace fraud.

Since taking office in January, Keith Ellison has conducted 25 listening sessions across the state to learn more about the issues facing Minnesotans. Now he is coming here, to Marshall, to hear what we have to say. In particular, he wants to hear from local ag producers concerning the unique challenges they are facing.

The attorney general’s listening session on farming and agriculture will be from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Allen and Kathleen Deutz Family Farm, 2866 County Road 35, Marshall. What a great opportunity to meet one of our most active state officials and to let your voice be heard.

— Anita Gaul is chairperson for the Lyon County DFL